23 February 2008, 7:14 pm ::
Match Report by Rob Barnett
Impressive Ireland overpower Scotland
Robert Kearney's first international try and a double from the recalled Tommy Bowe helped Ireland to a comfortable RBS 6 Nations victory over Scotland at Croke Park.
Kearney, 21, went over four minutes after David Wallace’s opening touchdown midway through a first half the visitors had dominated up to that point.
Further scores from Marcus Horan and Bowe took Ireland well clear after the break, with Simon Webster grabbing Scotland’s first try of the championship in consolation.
Scotland exerted all the early pressure as Ireland struggled to get out of their own half in the opening 10 minutes.
Despite their early possession, the Scots did not seriously threaten the Irish try line and had Allister Hogg to thank for intercepting Bowe’s inside pass in Ireland’s first decent break around the 15 minute mark.
The hosts finally threatened as Jamie Heaslip fed the ball inside to Wallace who brushed off Alasdair Strokosch to go under the posts in the 22nd minute.
Ronan O'Gara converted before Chris Paterson soon reduced the deficit with a 40-metre penalty.
However, Ireland immediately exposed Scotland's defence again as Kearney grabbed his first international try.
O'Gara waltzed through gaping holes in the dark blue ranks before finding the winger in space on the left touchline for a simple crossover in the 26th minute.
O'Gara made no mistake with the kick before Paterson slotted over another long-range penalty to keep Scotland in the game at 14-6.
The Scots fought back and Walker was inches from crossing in the corner in between two desperate spells of Irish defending on their own line.
But Nathan Hines saw a penalty award to Scotland reversed after he aimed a punch at Denis Leamy.
Ireland tightened their grip on proceedings with a third try within a minute of the restart when O'Gara's simple lob to the right set up Horan to cross in the corner.
O'Gara missed the resulting kick and Kearney then squandered a great chance for a double when he fumbled yards from the line.
An O'Gara penalty increased Ireland's lead but Scotland replied out of the blue as Webster claimed their first try of the championship in the 53rd minute.
His fellow centre Andy Henderson held off two challenges following a scrum and gave Webster an easy run to touch down. Paterson made it 22-13 with a simple conversion.
Ireland extinguished hopes of a Scotland comeback when Bowe grabbed the home side’s fourth try in the 62nd minute.
The winger was released after a strong run and well-timed pass by Andrew Trimble and he stretched to touch down despite being taken down short of the line by Mike Blair.
Brian O’Driscoll went off after treatment to a calf injury that had threatened to keep him out of the game, as a raft of changes interrupted the flow of the game.
Scotland’s misery was compounded in the closing stages by injuries to Euan Murray and sub Jim Hamilton, who was carried off on a stretcher after struggling on the ground with opposite lock Donncha O’Callaghan.
Bowe got his second try in the 79th minute after Paterson had dropped a difficult pass as Scotland squandered possession in their own 22, with Paddy Wallace’s missed conversion closing the game.
