Ireland secure third place but end Women's Six Nations campaign with defeat in Scotland
Ireland made sure of third place in this year's Women's Six Nations but missed the opportunity to finish the tournament on a high after a 26-19 defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Scott Bemand's side earned a losing bonus point in the process as a last-gasp Scottish try from Francesca McGhie spelled defeat at the Hive Stadium but missed the chance to win three away games in the championship for the first time since the 2017 edition.
Amee-Leigh Costigan had sent an Ireland side who were without injured back row Aoife Wafer, ahead after sprinting down the left flank to cross in the corner and Dannah O'Brien converted from a tight angle.
The hosts managed to get their first points of the game when Lana Skeldon broke away from a maul to ground, and they took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Emma Orr squeezed through a gap before diving over the line, with Helen Nelson adding the extras.
Ireland responded early in the second half following a good show of strength on the tryline, where Linda Djougang's effort was upheld following a TMO review, and Scotland's afternoon took a further twist when Rhona Lloyd was sent to the sin bin for head contact with Costigan in the build-up to the try.
Despite being a player down, Rachel McLachlan raced into the right corner to ground for the hosts and Nelson converted, but the fly-half was soon shown a yellow card with just over 10 minutes to play.
Emily Lane powered over the line for Ireland and O'Brien's conversion levelled the scores, but in the 80th minute a quick switch of play to the left wing saw McGhie crash over the line, with Nelson adding the extras from a tight angle.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Ellian Clarke; Jade Konkel, Sarah Bonar; Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher
Replacements: Elis Martin, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Becky Boyd, Gemma Bell, Rhea Clarke, Evie Willis, Lucia Scott
Ireland: Aoife Corey; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Fiona Tuite; Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan.
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