European Championship: Ireland defeat favourites France
Last Updated: 18/10/14 9:33pm
Ireland made a winning start to the European Championship as they shocked favourites France 22-12 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
St Helens full-back Shannon McDonnell, whose 2014 domestic season was curtailed by a fractured jaw, marked an impressive debut with two of the Wolfhounds' five tries.
Australia-born McDonnell gave the hosts a lead they never relinquished with a try after just seven minutes, having successfully chased a kick from Halifax scrum-half Ben Johnston.
Haydn Peacock, who plays his club rugby for Carcassonne, doubled Ireland's lead on 31 minutes by touching down Callum Casey's kick to give the home side a 8-0 lead at the break.
That became 12-0 six minutes into the second half when McDonnell finished off a sweeping move for his second try and Peacock also grabbed another to make it 16-0, with Ireland's goalkickers unable to add any extras in the windy conditions.
Hull KR forward Kevin Larroyer sparked a French fightback with a 58th minute try and with 10 minutes remaining Catalans Dragons hooker Eloi Pellissier crossed the whitewash. Remy Marginet kicked both conversions.
Ireland defended stubbornly though, and finally made sure of their first win for two years thanks to a last-minute try by Dewsbury's Jobe Murphy.
Ireland now take on Scotland, who defeated Wales on Friday night, at Tallaght Stadium next Saturday.
