Lansdowne Road was given a winning Six Nations send-off as Ireland kept their Triple Crown and title aspirations alive with a hard fought victory over Scotland.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s side travel to Twickenham next Saturday where they will face England in a showdown for the title - should the world champions beat France tomorrow.

Whatever unfolds in Paris, Ireland remain on course to clinch the championship for the first time since 1985 - despite frustrating throughout their campaign.

Once again they threatened to cut loose but failed to deliver the performance their potential has promised and this was no classic to bid farewell to Lansdowne Road ahead of next year’s redevelopment.

The conditions deteriorated as the match progressed and this took its inevitable toll on Irish ambition, although the aggressive defence which has marked Scotland’s Six Nations also played a full role.

Ronan O’Gara kicked all of Ireland’s points with Chris Paterson responding in kind for Scotland, whose unlikely title challenge is now off the cards.

The Scots’ transformation under coach Frank Hadden has been remarkable but their limitations were underlined as they rarely threatened.

Man of the match Paul O’Connell, back after missing the 31-5 victory over Wales with a shoulder injury, had an immense game which explained Eddie O’Sullivan’s insistence to allow him until the last minute to prove his fitness.

The Lions lock was Ireland’s most conspicuous forward, carrying the ball, cleaning up at rucks and covering the pitch like a backrow until his substitution in the 66th minute.

Peter Stringer continued his transformation from a one dimensional scrumhalf into a genuine threat around the fringes with another lively display.

O’Sullivan yesterday lamented the subdued atmosphere at Lansdowne Road for the Italy and Wales matches but he could have few complaints early this afternoon as a huge roar greeted kick-off.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll had demanded his team give Irish supporters reason to cheer and they did exactly that by racing out of the blocks with an early assault on the Scottish line.

A turnover in midfield allowed Ireland to attack down the right through Jerry Flannery and Shane Horgan but a poor pass to Gordon D’Arcy after the ball had been recycled ended the threat.

They won a penalty, however, which O’Gara sent between the uprights and Ireland continued to enjoy their best start in this year’s Six Nations when the Munster outhalf kicked another in the 10th minute.

Scotland’s resilience was being tested and they responded with two penalties from Paterson as the game lost its shape with poor kicking from both sides taking its toll.

Ireland opened up their opponents’ defence in the 24th minute but just failed to make use of their overlap with Denis Leamy getting caught in midfield when O’Driscoll was unmarked on the wing.

Once against the Scots were caught offside and O’Gara’s boot punished the infringement but just as Ireland appeared to be back in the driving seat, a turnover allowed Scotland to ease the pressure.

Paterson slotted a penalty before a loose pass from O’Gara allowed the visitors to attack with Sean Lamont nearly touching down Dan Parks’s grubber, only for Geordan Murphy to recover and clear his lines.

There was no shortage of possession to fuel Ireland’s attacks late in the first half but Scotland were performing heroics in defence once again, although they were often offside.

Referee Stuart Dickinson penalised them for the offence for a fifth time and O’Gara made no mistake to give the Irish a 12-9 interval lead.

With the wind behind them for the second half O’Sullivan’s men attempted to pin the Scots back and they nearly scored in the left corner but Murphy’s pass to Andrew Trimble was too low and the Ulster winger was bundled into touch.

O’Driscoll ran onto an pass from O’Gara at pace as Ireland cranked up the pressure but O’Connell then tried to go it alone when he should have used the men outside him.

Scotland were forced to repel waves of attacks with a fifth O’Gara penalty stretching the lead but their ongoing efforts to score a try remained frustrated.

While Hadden’s men were a converted try away from victory, they never looked like scoring and Ireland were able to preserve their lead as they moved within one victory of Six Nations glory.