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Ireland in the Five Nations of 1980


Big Moss Keane

By Gary Watton
April 11 2013

The start of a new decade marked the end of an era for the Welsh. Their dominance was replaced by a resurgent England who swept all before them, including their Welsh neighbours in a notoriously bad-tempered clash at Twickenham. Meanwhile, Ireland were still on an upward curve, in spite of a poor start at Twickers. Now a certain Ollie Campbell had emerged as the latest Oirish fly half sensation. Ironically, Ireland probably possessed the best two fly halves in the British Isles but could not for the time being accommodate both Campbell and Ward in the same starting XV.

ENGLAND 24 IRELAND 9; 19th January; at Twickenham

15 O'Brien

14 Kennedy

13 McKibbin

12 McNaughton

11 McLennan

10 Campbell [3 penalties]

9 Patterson

8 Duggan

7 Slattery (c)

6 O'Driscoll

5 Glennon

4 Keane

3 McLoughlin

2 Fitzgerald

1 Orr

This was not a happy debut for Kevin O'Brien nor Jim Glennon! Ireland had actually led 9-6 shortly before half-time.

IRELAND 22 SCOTLAND 15; 2nd February; at Lansdowne Road

15 O'Donnell

14 Kennedy [TRY]

13 McKibbin

12 McNaughton

11 Moloney

10 Campbell [3 penalties, 1 drop goal, 1 conversion]

9 Patterson

8 Duggan

7 Slattery (c)

6 O'Driscoll

5 Keane [TRY]

4 Glennon

3 Fitzpatrick

2 Fitzgerald

1 Orr

David Johnston managed two tries for Scotland while Munster's Moss Keane recorded his only international try in this win.

FRANCE 19 IRELAND 18; 1st March; at Parc des Princes

15 O'Donnell

14 Kennedy

13 Irwin

12 McNaughton

11 McLennan [TRY]

10 Campbell [3 penalties, 1 drop goal, 1 conversion]

9 Patterson

8 Spring

7 Slattery (c)

6 O'Driscoll

5 Keane

4 Foley

3 Fitzpatrick

2 Fitzgerald

1 Orr

Two second-half tries from the winger Jean-Francois Gourdon narrowly foiled a rare Irish win in Paris. 

IRELAND 21 WALES 7; 15th March; at Lansdowne Road

15 O'Donnell

14 Kennedy

13 Irwin [TRY]

12 McNaughton

11 Moloney

10 Campbell [penalty, 3 conversions]

9 Patterson

8 Spring

7 Slattery (c)

6 O'Driscoll [TRY]

5 Foley

4 Keane

3 Fitzpatrick

2 Fitzgerald [TRY]

1 Orr

Ciaran Fitzgerald charged down a kick to record a rare try as Ireland emphatically built upon their 6-3 interval lead.

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Ireland in the Five Nations of 1980
Discussion started by Ireland , 11/04/2013 15:33
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