Ireland U20s thump Scotland but miss out on U20 Six Nations Championship title

LIMERICK second-row Evan O'Connell played a captain's part as the Ireland U20s completed their U20 Six Nations Championship with a resounding 36-0 bonus point win over Scotland at Virgin Media Park on Friday night.

Skipper O'Connell scored one of Ireland's five tries in a Man of the Match display as the home side reeled off four tries during the last 23 minutes to move themselves onto 22 points at the top of the table.

Shannon RFCs highly-rated Luke Murphy lined out at number eight on the Ireland side, but was replaced early in the second half after picking up an injury.

However, in the later kick-off, England U20s defeated France U20s, winning 45-31 in Pau to finish on 23 points and become champions for the first time since 2021.

Hugo McLaughlin's first half try gave Richie Murphy's charges a hard-earned 7-0 half-time lead.

UL-Bohemian clubman O'Connell added a second Ireland try on the hour mark, before Cork duo Danny Sheahan (2) and Sean Edogbo both powered over from close range, with the former's fifth try of the tournament coming in the 82nd minute.

With their opening round win over France in Aix-en-Provence and their draw against England at Bath, Ireland are now unbeaten in 15 U-20 Six Nations matches.

SCORERS: Ireland: Tries: Hugo McLaughlin, Evan O'Connell, Danny Sheahan 2, Sean Edogbo; Cons: Jack Murphy 4; Pen: Jack Murphy. Scotland: -

IRELAND U-20: Ben O'Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Wilhelm de Klerk (UCD RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Hugo McLaughlin (Lansdowne FC/Leinster); Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Henry Walker (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Jacob Boyd (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Joe Hopes (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O'Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster). Replacements used: James McKillop (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster) for L Murphy (43 mins), Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) for Boyd (48), Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster) for Gavin (56), Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster) for Walker, Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster) for Ward (both 60), Ben Howard (Terenure College RFC/Leinster) for Usanov (65), Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht) for de Klerk (71), Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster) for Coffey (74).

SCOTLAND U-20: Jack Brown; Finlay Doyle, Johnny Ventisei, Findlay Thomson, Geordie Gwynn (co-capt); Andrew McLean, Hector Patterson; Callum Smyth, Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Norrie, Euan McVie, Ruaraidh Hart (co-capt), Jonny Morris, Freddy Douglas, Tom Currie. Replacements used: Robbie Deans for Smyth (24 mins), Eric Davey for Patterson, Finn Douglas for Brown, Monroe Job for Morris (all 60), Kerr Yule for Thomson, Archie Clarke for McVie (both 62), Ryan Whitefield for Norrie, Marcus Brogan for Blyth-Lafferty (both 66).

REFEREE: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)