Despite a fast start from the English, the visitors roared back with 24 unanswered points that brought them their first win against this opposition in the U21 age category.

Beth Buttimer scored two crucial tries after coming on to turn the screw and England were unable to recover.

England opened the scoring eight minutes in when Kaya Acton dotted down from a maul that Ireland simply couldn’t handle.

Only two minutes later, England went through the phases five metres out from Ireland’s line before Hayley Jones had the muscle to barge through, though Ella Cromack was unable to add two points this time.

Caitriona Finn’s precise cross-field kick proved to be the key to unlock the English defence, as Katie Corrigan raced through to touch down in the corner.

Collecting a high kick, England’s Grace White tiptoed past two Irish tackles, making about 40 yards. England were patient and recycled the ball, allowing Acton to squeeze her second score down and put England 19-5 ahead.

But Ireland weren’t about to roll over, hitting back through Gloucester-Hartpury’s Roisin Maher when she dropped over the line.

Despite Ireland losing a player when Sally Kelly received a yellow card following a TMO intervention, Lucia Linn seared onto her own improvised kick as England’s defence waited to concede a penalty. It was just a two-point game at the interval.

And at the start of the second half, Ireland hit the front for the first time in the match when Kelly drew two England defenders and set Jemima Adams Verling free to cruise over the tryline.

And England just couldn’t stop the Irish runaway train. Another driving maul was well-organised with replacement Buttimer holding the ball off the back, and she was able to flop over the line to make it a staggering 24 unanswered points for Ireland since England’s fast start. They led 29-19.

Finally, England hit back through Molly Bunker as the Irish scrambled to defend a breakdown on their line, leaving three players unmarked on the right wing.

But Buttimer once again bulldozed her way to score, stretching a long left arm out to place the ball at the feet of the English defence and reinstate her side’s ten-point lead.

Cromack tried to take matters into her own hands, racing through to score and sending the subsequent conversion through the posts.

But Ireland kept coming, this time Ailish Quinn seizing the opportunity to score with the help of Naoise Smyth.

England gave it everything to find a late score, but it only came from Carmela Morrall when the clock was red, leaving Ireland as victors by a single point