Ireland beat France 13-10 in the first of two Under-19 internationals between the countries at the French training base of Marcoussis, just outside Paris. They will contest a second international at the same venue on Saturday evening (6.0, Irish time).
Young Munster and Ireland fullback David O'Mahony provided all his side's points with a try conversion and two penalties for the Peter Malone (head coach) and Kieran Campbell (assistant coach) guided side.
France led 10-3 at the break but O’Mahony’s 65th minute try and conversion, allied to a brace of penalties took Ireland into a lead they refused to relinquish. O’Mahony has played Ulster Bank League rugby for his side.
The Ireland team led by Paul Kiernan, a son of former Ireland centre Michael, and that included Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Porter who played in the Under-20 Six Nations were indebted to some fine individual performances including the backrow of Greg Jones, Neil Reilly and Max Deegan.
There was a double celebration when the Ireland Clubs U-18 team beat France U-18, 18-10 at Hartpury College in Gloucester in a triangular tournament. The Wayne Mitchell coached Irish side scored tries through captain, Conor Farrell and Paul Boyle. Luke Carty kicked a conversion and penalty while Ciaran Frawley also kicked a penalty. The Irish side will take on their English counterparts at the same venue on Saturday (2.0).
The Ireland Under-18 Schools side will hope to avoid finishing in eighth and last place - there is some uncertainty about whether that would see them relegated to Division Two of the FIRA AER Championships - when they face Scotland in Tournefeuille (11.0am) on Saturday.
They drew 8-8 with Georgia in their first match but lost 3-1 on penalty kicks and on Tuesday were beaten 14-9 by Wales. The Scots, who were beaten on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw with Portugal, beat Ireland in a pre-tournament warm-up match.
Ireland Under 19: David O'Mahony (Young Munster); Matthew Byrne (Terenure College), Conor O'Brien (Clontarf), Paul Kiernan (UCC, capt), Jacob Stockdale (QUB); Jimmy O'Brien (Newbridge College), Liam Free (Glamorgan Wanderers); Andrew Porter (UCD), Vincent O'Brien (Cork Constitution), Ben Betts (Young Munster); Peter Claffey (NUIG), Sean O'Connor (Rockwell College); Greg Jones (UCD), Conall Boomer (Cottelsoe, Australia), Max Deegan (St Michael's College).
Replacements used: Neil Reilly (Clontarf) for Boomer (19 mins), John Poland (PBC Cork) for Free (half-time), Michael Melia (Terenure College) for Claffey (50 mins), Conor Kenny (Garbally College) for Betts (60 mins).
Ireland Clubs U-18: Luke Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht); Peter Howard (Cill Dara/Leinster), Conor Nash (Navan/Leinster), Darragh Cummins (Sligo/Connacht), Otto Gray (Canford School/Exiles); Ciaran Frawley (Skerries/Leinster), Niall Saunders (Harlequins/Epsom College/Exiles); Greg McGrath (Wexford Wanderers/Leinster), Tadgh McElroy (Dundalk/Leinster), Jack Aungier (Suttonians/Leinster); Joe Carley (Enniscorthy/Leinster), Jack Regan (Birr/Leinster); Conor Hand (Navan/Leinster), Conor Farrell (Navan/Leinster, capt), Paul Boyle (Gorey/Leinster).
Replacements used: Liam Coombes (Skibbereen/Munster) for Carty (51 mins), Sean O'Brien (Mullingar/Leinster) for Cummins (57), Conor Maguire (Boyne/Leinster) for McElroy, Sean Masterson (Portlaoise/Leinster) for Carley, Alan Fitzgerald (Young Munster/Munster) for Hand (all 66 mins).
