The game was in the balance right until the end with Ruddock's troops leading Italy just 11-9 with nine minutes left thanks to a James Tracy try on 32 minutes and three Paddy Jackson penalties.

But Ulster flier Gilroy made the game safe with his late double and Ruddock could breathe a sigh of relief that his own Six Nations campaign got off to a winning start.

Italy were the first to get points on the board early as winger Marco Gennari booted the first of his three penalties in the third minute.

However after just five minutes Ireland were level as Jackson got the first three of his 13 points of the night - and put Ireland ahead with a second kick on 12 minutes.

Italy had most of the possession and Ruddock's men were doing well to soak up the pressure - that was until the 32nd minute when Ireland scored against the run of play.

Captain Niall Annett made the most of some space on the left to pass for Andrew Boyle and the winger cut back inside and beat the first defender before linking with Tracy who barrelled over from close range.

Jackson missed the conversion to the left of the posts and Gennari replied for Italy, shortly before half-time, to close the gap to just two at the break.

In a tight second-half Jackson had the chance to extend Ireland's lead five minutes after the restart but missed his penalty, however he made no mistake from another on 67 minutes.

But soon after it was all about Gilroy as Brendan Macken charged over halfway, linked with the supporting Jordi Murphy and the flanker's final pass put Gilroy put him in under the posts.
Jackson converted and added the extras to Gilroy's second try, three minutes later.

This time, the Dungannon clubman powered through a gap in the Italian 22, shrugging off Timi Enodeh's challenge on the to the way to the try-line.

Ireland had quickly built up an unassailable lead and despite having Murphy and Michael Kearney sin-binned in injury time saw the game out for a comfortable looking 28-9 victory.