By Gary Watton
April 13 2013
A mediocre 1988 tournament for Ireland looked like it might be petering out at Twickenham with a nondescript victory against England, but then it rained tries, like manna from Heaven, for the tries-starved English, and the Oirish Five Nations campaign shockingly descended into chaos. It had seemed much more promising after a three-try display against Scotland at the start of the hostilities. By the end of the competition, it was a case of back to the drawing board again, as Ireland sought a long-term replacement for the irreplaceable Phil Orr and 1987 bomb victim Nigel Carr. Even the illustrious careers of Hugo MacNeill and Trevor Ringland were irreparably damaged by the second-half rout in south-west London. Wales meanwhile recorded a triple crown, which represented an oasis of success in an otherwise barren decade for the once-mighty dragon.
IRELAND 22 SCOTLAND 18; 16th January; at Lansdowne Road
15 Danaher
14 Ringland
13 Mullin [TRY]
12 Kiernan [drop goal, penalty, 2 conversions]
11 Crossan
10 Dean
9 Bradley [TRY]
8 Gibson
7 Sexton
6 Matthews
5 Anderson
4 Lenihan (c)
3 Fitzgerald.D
2 Kingston
1 Fitzgerald.J
Replacement Hugo MacNeill scored one of two first-half tries. Michael Bradley did likewise in the second half.
FRANCE 25 IRELAND 6; 20th February; at Parc des Princes
15 Danaher
14 Ringland
13 Mullin
12 Kiernan [2 penalties]
11 Crossan
10 Dean
9 Bradley
8 Gibson
7 Whittle
6 Matthews
5 Anderson
4 Lenihan (c)
3 Fitzgerald.D
2 Kingston
1 Fitzgerald.J
The rampant French scored five tries as Ireland's poor run at this venue continued. The interval lead was 'only' 7-0.
IRELAND 9 WALES 12; 5th March; at Lansdowne Road
15 Danaher
14 Ringland
13 Mullin
12 Kiernan [penalty, conversion]
11 Crossan
10 Dean
9 Bradley
8 Gibson
7 McBride
6 Matthews
5 Anderson
4 Lenihan (c)
3 Fitzgerald
2 Kingston [TRY]
1 Clancy
Paul Moriarty scored a second-half try which helped to emulate the team of 1978 by landing a triple crown in Dublin.
ENGLAND 35 IRELAND 3; 19th March; at Twickenham
15 MacNeill
14 Ringland
13 Mullin
12 Kiernan [drop goal]
11 Crossan
10 Dean
9 Bradley
8 Anderson
7 McBride
6 Matthews
5 Moylett
4 Lenihan (c)
3 Fitzgerald
2 Kingston
1 Clancy
No-one could have foreseen the carnage of the second-half after a 3-0 half-time lead for Ireland! Oti achieved three tries.
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