Murrayfield Misery

Ireland's last victory against Scotland in Murrayfield was in 1985, the year of the last Triple Crown success

Ireland's last victory against Scotland in Murrayfield was in 1985, the year of the last Triple Crown success. Trevor Ringland scored two tries on a day when Ireland won 18-15.

1987: Scotland 16 Ireland 12 - The Scots edge past their visitors with tries from Roy Laidlaw - he always seemed to score against Ireland - and Iwan Tukalo who was also quite prolific against the Irish. Current Ireland team manager Donal Lenihan scored a try with Michael Kiernan contributing the rest of the points with the boot.

1989: Scotland 37 Ireland 21 - Iwan Tukalo enjoys a field day scoring three tries, a constant and costly nemesis for the Irish defence. Flanker John Jeffrey and second row Damien Cronin also cross for tries with fullback Peter Dods adding a further 17 points with four conversions and three penalty goals. Brendan Mullin grabbed a brace of tries for Ireland with Fergus Dunlea adding another, on a day when he won the last of his three caps for Ireland.

1991: Scotland 28 Ireland 25 - The Hastings brothers Gavin and Scott chipped in with a try apiece while Tony Stanger also crossed the Irish line. In what was a superb match Ireland managed to outscore their hosts in the try scoring stakes by 4-3 with Keith Crossan, Brian Robinson, Brendan Mullin and Simon Geoghegan touching down. Brian Smith kicked three conversions and a drop goal.

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1991: (World Cup) Scotland 24 Ireland 15 - Ireland's poor run continued even outside of the Five Nations as they slumped to defeat in their World Cup Pool match against the Scots. The Scots had tries from Graham Shiel and Gary Armstrong but the match will probably be best remembered for Scottish flanker Finlay Calder's head high tackle on Irish fullback Jim Staples. Ireland's points came from four penalties and a drop goal by Ralph Keyes.

1993: Scotland 15 Ireland 3 - One of the most disappointing performances by an Irish team at the venue. The game itself was of poor quality, a little surprising given the open and exciting matches that this particular contest has symbolised over the years. Niall Malone kicked a penalty but missed several other chances.

1995: Scotland 26 Ireland 13 - Having drawn at Lansdowne Road the previous year to break a run of six consecutive defeats to the Scots, Ireland were hopeful of breaking another unhappy sequence at Murrayfield. But despite tries from Brendan Mullin and Jonathan Bell, the latter played on the wing, the Irish were well beaten on the day.

1997: Scotland 38 Ireland 10 - The worst performance by an Irish team during the losing sequence at Murrayfield and the defeat that persuaded Irish coach Brian Ashton that the coaching job no longer suited him. Ironically Ireland scored first through St Mary's College wing Denis Hickie but for Irish supporters the rest of the game was a nightmare experience.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer