
Ireland fall to Italian defeat at U-20s World Championships
Ireland fell to a narrow defeat to hosts Italy at the World Rugby U-20 Championships in Viadana today.
In stifling conditions, Ireland nearly came away with a draw when replacement flanker Oisín Minogue crossed the tryline in the 82nd minute, but out-half Sam Wisniewski was unable to land his conversion from the right with the final act of an ill-disciplined game.
The defeat, following the 35-28 opening-round victory over Georgia, means Ireland must beat New Zealand in their third and final game of Pool C next Wednesday and hope other results go their way to be in with a chance of a semi-final.
Italy, who also got the better of Ireland in this year's U20 Six Nations campaign, took the lead in the 12th minute through Italian No 8 Nelson Casartelli.
Temperatures reached 33 degrees at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella where Ireland out-half Tom Wood and Italian full-back Edoardo Todaro traded penalties to ensure Italy led 8-3 at the break.
Piero Gritti's try just short of the hour mark appeared to send the hosts well on their way, but the visitors responded four minutes later when replacement hooker Mikey Yarr touched down in the corner with the Italians temporarily down to 14 after the sin-binning of Casartelli for a high tackle on full-back Charlie Molony.
Irish lock Billy Corrigan soon followed to the sin-bin with Italy adding another penalty to make it 18-11 with nine minutes remaining.
Ireland fought to the end and got over with the clock in the red, but Minogue's miss ensured a home win.
Italy: E Todaro; A Drago (R Ioannucci 62), F Zanandea, R Casarin, J Ducros (G Pietramala 68); R Fasti, N Beni (M Bellotto 74); S Pelliccioli (S Mistrulli 54), N Corvasce (A Caiolo-Serra 54), N Bolognini (L Trevisan 53); M Midena (E Opoku Gyamfi 53), P Gritti; G Milano, C Bianchi (A Miranda 57), N Casartelli.
Ireland: C Molony; P Farrell, C Mangan, E Smyth, D Moloney; T Wood (S Wisniewski 60), W Wootton (C Logan 64); A Usanov (B Bohan 53), H Walker (M Yarr 53-78), A Mullan (T McAllister 53) M Ronan (C Kennelly 48), B Corrigan; E McCarthy, B Power (O Minogue 62), L Murphy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Should GAA county boards in Ireland gift newborns with a club jersey?
A FINE GAEL senator has said that GAA county boards across the country should gift newborns with a club jersey, following an initiative being carried out by Bologna FC. The initiative promotes 'club community spirit' from a young age, said Senator Eileen Lynch. Advertisement 'Bologna FC, in partnership with their local government, provides free jerseys to all babies born in Bologna, before they even leave the hospital. The Italian team provides the jerseys in club-coloured boxes to parents of newborns throughout the city,' she said. She encouraged Cork GAA and other clubs to consider the proposal. Do you think GAA county boards in Ireland should gift newborns with a club jersey? Poll Results: No (567) Yes, that's a great idea (254) No interest/no opinion (80) Maybe (43) Yes, that's a great idea Maybe No No interest/no opinion Vote


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Screene saves the best for last with sensational 66 at Carton House
Irish rookie Canice Screene was on course to double her season's earnings on the Ladies European Tour (LET) after closing with a best-of-the-week seven-under 66 in the KPMG Women's Irish Open. Tied for 65th on five-over after the third round, Screene made an eagle and five birdies in a sensational bogey-free effort to move into the top 40 on two-under par at Carton House. Born in London to Irish parents — her mother hails from Belmullet in Co Mayo while her father has Galway roots — 23-year-old Screene has conditional status on the LET this season. But she's now got a chance to make a move up from 140th in the Order of Merit and improve her chances of winning full status by the end of this season, "It's my best round on tour," said a delighted Screene after she fist-pumped as she brushed in a tricky five-footer for a closing par. "Five under was my previous best, so I am excited. "The 18th hole has given me some problems this week. So that was better than any of my birdies." Screene won the AIG Irish Women's Close last year, and although she didn't secure her full card at the Qualifying School, she has now made six appearances on the Ladies European Tour and can fill in her schedule with appearances on the second-tier LET Access Series. She enjoyed strong home support for her early tee time today, though her grandmother couldn't make it. "My nan wasn't coming today, so she's like, 'What are you going to do?' And I was like, going to be under par," Screene said with a chuckle. "I don't think she realised I was going to be quite so under." After making birdies at the first and third, Screene chipped in for an eagle three at the fourth, then birdied the 10th and 13th before saving a good par at the 14th. Another birdie at the par-five 15th put her seven under for the day, and she was delighted to par her way home and outshine the superstars in the field with the lowest round of the week. "Obviously, everything was working nicely," she said. "I chipped in for eagle on a four, so that was always nice. Four under after four." Getting starts on the main tour is her challenge for the rest of the season and she will likely move up the pecking order when there is a re-shuffle in the rankings after next month's PIF London Championship. She doesn't qualify for the Evian Championship next week but hopes to make her major debut in the AIG Women's Open in Royal Porthcawl. "I've pre qualifying for The Open in about a week, and then hopefully final qualifying after that. "The re-shuffle will then give me a bit more clarity for the end of the season. But I have a lot of events I can add on the LET Access Series too." She has no regrets about turning professional with a weak LET card and loves travelling with her father, Mike, as her caddie. "I've loved it," she said. "I mean, this week is the most special thing ever because I have a massive family, and they're all here. "If you heard people screaming, that was my very over-enthusiastic uncle. It's the best thing ever, and it makes teeing off at 7:24 in the morning less painful. "Hopefully my round stands up as the best of the week. I played good golf this week, but I haven't necessarily got the best out of it until today. "Apart from the par save at the last, I made another good on the 14th but hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens today, so delighted with that."


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
'Story is only getting started' - Spike Island thrills to Drift drama
Some of the top Irish drift drivers thrilled the capacity crowd on Spike Island on Saturday evening as Buttevant's Alan Hynes beat 15 other drivers to win the Red Bull Drift Pursuit. He held off the challenges of second-placed Stephen Halferty (Derry) with Jakub Krzyszczak (Waterford) winning the battle for third from Jake Davey (Galway). For almost two hours the head-to-head competition kept the attendance on their toes before local hero Hynes took the title in front of a majority Cork crowd. In glorious sunshine, the fans were treated to demonstration drives on the custom-built course by world drift stars, brothers Conor and Jack Shanahan from Killavullen in their Toyota GT86's. There was also an appearance from Irish World Rally Championship driver Derry's Josh McErlean in the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, who also showcased his talents to the fans at the iconic location. Hynes was thrilled with his victory, "It's a pretty special moment. I really enjoyed it (Red Bull Drift Pursuit) last year, this year was even more special being in here on Spike Island, the cherry on top really. He added: "What a special venue, a special place, a special event. It's an amazing feeling. The opposition was immense and Stephen (Halferty) pushed me all the way. I was racing in Europe last weekend and had a big crash, so it was nice to come here and take the win." Meanwhile, as he enjoyed some time in his native county, Conor Shanahan, who currently leads the Drift Masters European Championship (DMEC) and displayed why he is regarded as one of the best in the world, said, "Personally, I feel every time we look at ourselves in drifting and how look at the sport these days and how big the sport is getting, to be here in Spike Island with an event, it's pretty unique, who would have thought that ten years ago, there is so much history here. "To do it close to home and have local support is pretty special. Home is always special. This story is only getting started, there's a lot to write yet."