Ireland have been crowned 2022 Six Nations Under-20 champions after defeating Scotland in Cork for a second Grand Slam title in four years.
The Men in Green completed the clean sweep with a comfortable 59-5 victory over Scotland at Musgrave Park, meaning that France, who lost to Ireland with the last kick of the game in Round 2, cannot win the title even with victory over England in the final game of the Championship.
Ireland came into the contest knowing that victory would secure them the Grand Slam and the title, and with it the Triple Crown.
That did not faze Ireland however, as they came flying out of the blocks, with two early tries from Jack Boyle and Fionn Gibbons helping them storm into a 12-0 lead.
Three more first-half tries would follow from Jude Postlethwaite, Charlie Tector and Ben Carson as Richie Murphy’s men had all but secured an impressive Grand Slam inside 40 minutes.
Matthew Devine and James McCormick scored two more tries as the home crowd revelled in Six Nations Under-20s glory.
Ross McKnight grabbed a consolation try for Scotland, who finished the Championship winless on what was a very difficult evening for the away side, compounded further when Josh Hanlon’s try five minutes from time brought up the 50-point mark.
Gibbons scored his second of the evening late on as Ireland turned on the style one more time.
Ireland began their campaign in the same stadium, with a thumping 53-5 win over Wales, before that crucial 17-16 win in France, with Tector’s winning conversion looking all the more important now.
Another victory in Cork followed against Italy in Round 3, with Ireland running out 39-12 winners before a stunning second half display saw them win 42-27 at StoneX Stadium against England last week.
Then today, they wrapped up a formidable campaign with victory over Scotland to seal the Grand Slam, meaning that even with victory tonight, France will have to settle for second.