Youths (U18) Lose to England.

03/04/02. The Ireland Under 18s slipped to a second defeat in this Four Nations Championship when they went down 17-9 to England at Morley Rugby Club in Leeds yesterday

The two sides were tied 6-6 at the break but Ireland’s chances of victory were dealt a serious blow when replacement flanker Cian O’Connor (Munster) was sent off for stamping early in the second half.

Out-half Craig Barker gave the home side the lead with a penalty in the 14th minute before his opposite number, Paddy O’Toole (Connacht) replied for the Irish. Barker and O’Toole then swopped penalties. Just before the break it seemed that wing Stephen Carey (Munster) had scored for Ireland only for play to be whistled back for an infringement.

Barker kicked the English back into the lead and shortly after he’d arrived on the field for Phillip Currie (Ulster), O’Connor was dismissed, the initiative moving to the home side. O’Toole leveled the game again and was then narroiwly wide, before, with nine minutes of the game remaining England scored the game’s only try through scrum-half Rhodri McAtee. In the dying minutes Barker’s fourth penalty put the result beyond recall.

Ireland. R McGowan (D Bryan 61); S Carey, D O’Reilly, B O’Donnell, J Harney; P O’Toole, R Pollock; A Friel, J Musgrave (S Leonard temp), E Bracken (R Loughney 48); S Hennessy, L Sullivan (T Ryan); P Currie (C O’Connor 40), O Hennessy, T Doran.

Referee: K Evans (Wales)