McGrory scores for Ireland

Ireland 1-2 Wales

Ireland finished their Four Nations semi-professional tournament with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wales at Turner's Cross, Cork today.

A second draw in three games for Stuart Ashton's side seemed to be on the cards as full time neared but Wales' full-back Gethin Jones produced a superb header past Kieran Kelly with just 120 seconds remaining to give the Principality the victory.

Wales had taken the lead after 22 minutes when substitute Marc Lloyd Williams produced a calm finish after latching onto a superb Graham Evans through ball.

Just before half-time, however, Ireland were back on level terms when Barry McGrory swivelled in the box and sent a shot crashing to the Welsh net. That looked as though it would be enough to stave off defeat until Jones' late intervention.

Ireland finish the competition in fourth place, while England claimed the championship with a 3-2 defeat pf Scotland.


Ireland: Kieran Kelly, Hussain Yazdani (Gerry Gill, 67 mins), Ray Lally, Shane Guthrie, Paul Malone, Kevin Murray (capt), Kieran Hart (Danny Scahill, 58 mins), Darren O'Brien, Barry McGrory, Jamie Nolan (Connor Salmon, 78 mins), Dave Tyrell

Wales: Tony Roberts, Gethin Jones, Darren Jones (Tony Pennock, 81 mins), Matthew Coupe, Damon Searle, Chris Bale, Chris Giles (Marc Lloyd Williams, 20 mins), Nathan Davies (Steve Evans, half-time), Bari Morgan, Gary Lloyd (capt), Graham Evans.

Referee: Steve Tanner (England)

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