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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Ireland outlast England to clinch historic home Grand Slam

Ireland 29-16 England

Nervy Ireland got over their finish line fever to make history at the Aviva Stadium.

Record-breaker Johnny Sexton came off to a standing ovation six minutes from time though not in the way he would have wanted, with the job not quite done and with a worrying looking leg injury.

Ross Byrne replaced the injured Sexton but with the home fans' emotions torn and frayed, their worries were allayed three minutes from time as Rob Herring, who was on for two-try man of the match Dan Sheehan, crashed over for the insurance score.

It was a tight and tense, hard-earned victory over an England team reduced to 14 men for just over 40 minutes - and then 13 for the last four - saw the hosts secure the Grand Slam for only the fourth time in championship history.

And, at the final whistle, emotions surged on the pitch and all around Lansdowne Road, just as they had done for the rousing anthems before kick-off - and through a first half hour that had the expectant home support fearing the worst.

Following Six Nations wins against Wales, France, Italy and Scotland, it was left to Andy Farrell's charges to finish the job against the old enemy on St Patrick's weekend. The perfect scenario.

In the end, there was relief mixed in there with euphoria.

Ireland had to do it the hard way at Murrayfield six days earlier when they lost both hookers and four forwards with half an hour remaining.

This time they had to battle the performance anxiety that was thought to have been banished from Andy Farrell's set-up over the past year.

Ireland had never been hotter favourites in this fixture and were looking for their third straight victory against England.

But there was the inevitable kick in the Red Rose as they reacted to last week's humiliation against France.

Add to that Ireland's hugely uncharacteristic, error-strewn performance and it really was game on as the home side struggled to deal with England's kicking game.

For much of this game, the men in green were a shadow of the side that has taken this championship by storm but a strong finish saw them home as, once more, their bench came up trumps.

Even skipper Sexton, playing in his 60th and final Six Nations fixture, was off his game early on and the malaise spread across the team.

However the 37-year-old delivered when it counted - not only by moving clear of Ronan O'Gara at the top of the all-time Six Nations points list with a penalty and two conversions, but also delivering a booming kick that led to Robbie Henshaw's match-clinching 62nd minute try.

Sexton and Mack Hansen were turned over in quick succession and a lineout lost before Owen Farrell kicked England ahead after eight minutes.

Then glory was in Sexton's sights when he took a quick tap penalty close to the visitors' line, only for Alex Dombrandt to hold him up over the try line.

It was Farrell who struck next when Andrew Porter was pinged for not rolling away for a 6-0 lead.

Sexton's historic moment came in the 19th minute.

Hugo Keenan tackled Henry Arundell in midfield and Porter won a turnover penalty. Sexton took aim and split the posts for the points record and received a standing ovation.

At the other end, Ireland were roused by James Lowe dumping Manu Tuilagi into touch and Peter O'Mahony stealing a lineout in the hosts' 22 after poor handling in midfield put England on the front foot.

The Red Rose were then boosted by a scrum penalty win in their own half, but the tide finally turned when Ellis Genge was pinged for an off-the-ball foul in the 32nd minute.

Off lineout ball, Josh van der Flier sent the rampaging Sheehan into a huge gap and over for the try, putting his side ahead for the first time.

Then, with the clock in the red at the end of the opening half, Freddie Steward's red card for careering into Keenan earned the England full-back a red card.

It was a massive blow to England as they had advantage off a knock-on when Steward collided with the full-back.

Ireland failed to instantly exploit the situation as Keenan failed to return after a HIA.

And England came out for the second half determined not to give this one up easily as, once more, their kicking game prevented their rivals from finding any fluidity.

Farrell made it a one-point game in the 51st minute after Ireland were penalised for collapsing the scrum and the tension ratcheted up another level.

A Sexton mis-kick into touch on his own 22 only enhanced that feeling, but he made up for it with that brilliant kick under pressure that saw Hansen force Anthony Watson to concede a five metre scrum to Ireland.

This time the hosts kept their composure. Jamison Gibson-Park found Bundee Aki and he sent over his centre partner Henshaw, with Sexton nailing the conversion for an eight point lead.

That small bit of breathing space became a big one 11 minutes from time when Jack Conan's precisely-timed pass put Sheehan over for his second try.

Sexton nailed the tough conversion and threw his hands in the air in triumph, but there was still work to do and England hit back through Jamie George's converted 73rd minute try.

With England's Jack Willis sent to the sin bin for his tackle on Byrne, Herring breached the 13-man defence to clinch victory.

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