Ireland................................. 36pts
Tries: McLaughlin 19, O’Connell 59, Sheahan 70, 80+2;
Edogbo 76
Conversions: Murphy 21, 71, 77, 83
Penalties: Murphy 49
Scotland ................................ 0pts
IRELAND scored five tries to blow away Scotland but fell just short of becoming the first side in the U20 Six Nations to win three consecutive titles.
England claimed the Championship by a single point despite Richie Murphy’s side going through their campaign unbeaten.
Hugo McLaughlin scored the only try of the first half as Ireland took a 7-0 lead at a packed out Musgrave Park in Cork.
And they took command in the second half as tries from Evan O’Connell, Danny Sheahan (2) and Sean Edogbo sealed the bonus-point win.
Ireland are now unbeaten in 15 games in the Six Nations.
Both the Irish and England finished the tournament unbeaten, with four wins and a draw against each other, but Mark Mapletoft’s side edged the title with five bonus-points compared with Ireland’s four.
Player of the match and Ireland captain Evan O’Connell said: “That was an immense battle, the Scots came out firing in the first half, very physical, very strong.
“We definitely got back into the zone in the second half. The crowd gave us such a buzz, great energy, they were huge for us. It’s been amazing, a great group of lads and I am unbelievably proud of the group effort.”
Ireland recorded an 82-7 victory against Scotland in last year’s Six Nations, but the visitors were much improved this time and were the better of the two sides in the first period.
It was a scrappy start from Ireland, with Scotland forcing the hosts into a number of handling errors.
They managed three turnovers as Ireland conceded six penalties in an error-strewn first-half display.
The hosts got their first chance in the 14th minute as Finn Treacy kicked forward and raced after it, but Isaac
Coates covered well, scampering across to prevent Treacy from crossing.
Ireland made the breakthrough on 20 minutes after a wellworked move.
They capitalised on a mistake from Scotland’s debutant fullback Jack Brown, before working the ball out t
