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tbilisi cup

Ian Keatley spares Irish blushes at Tbilisi Cup

Keatley and Dave Kearney combined for all of Emerging Ireland’s points as they struggled past Georgia in their tournament opener.

IAN KEATLEY HELD his nerve to spare Irish blushes as the Tbilisi Cup got underway in Georgia this afternoon.

In a windy Avchala Stadium, Keatley kicked two late penalties to guide Allen Clarke’s Emerging Ireland side to a nervy 20-15 win against the tournament hosts.

The Munster out-half slotted two penalties to give Ireland an early lead but it was Georgia who scored the game’s opening try and went into the break 10-6 up. With pressure on the Irish pack, back-row Giorgi Chkhaidze peeled off the back of a scrum to barrel over shortly before half-time.

Ireland hit back early in the second half when David Kearney forced his way through some loose Georgian tackles to touch down in the corner and give Ireland a slender 11-10 advantage.

Keatley then added his third penalty before some lackadaisical Irish defence allowed winger Tamaz Mchedlidze in to score.

Georgia held on to their 15-14 lead as the clock ticked into the red but, against a chorus of boos from the home support, Keatley kept calm to kick two pressure penalties and get Ireland off to a winning start.

In the day’s first game, the South African President’s XV beat Uruguay 37-9. Emerging Ireland play South Africa next on Tuesday, 11 June, at 2pm Irish time.

Emerging Ireland (v Georgia): David Kearney (Leinster); Niall Morris (Leicester), Eoin Griffin Connacht), Michael Allen (Ulster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht); Ian Keatley (Munster), Michael Heaney (Ulster): Jack McGrath (Leinster), Robert Herring (Ulster), Michael Bent (Leinster); Lewis Stevenson (Ulster), David Foley (Munster); Rhys Ruddock (capt, Leinster), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Robbie Diack (Ulster).

Replacements: Niall Annett (Ulster), Ricky Lutton (Ulster), Ian Nagle (Munster), Jordi Murphy, John Cooney, Noel Reid, Brendan Macken (all Leinster).

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