Finn Treacy try spares Ireland's blushes against Georgia

Ireland U-20 22-16 Georgia U-20

Ireland produced a stunning 25-phase move in the final play of the game to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the World Rugby U-20 Championship with a dramatic winning try in the 83rd minute at the Danie Craven Stadium in South Africa.

Georgia seemed poised for a shock win when they led 16-15 as the clock ticked past 80 minutes but Willie Faloon's men did not panic and worked the ball from their own half before replacement winger Finn Treacy got over in the left corner after the cover had been sucked infield dealing with the constant barrages from a desperate Ireland side.

Treacy’s former Pres Bray team-mate Jack Murphy added the touchline conversion to seal a win which seemed beyond Ireland for long periods against a fired up Georgia side, who were gutted at the end.

Ireland led 12-6 at the end of an opening half that they dominated playing with the breeze, but they struggled to break down a resolute Georgia defence.

Ireland had feared the Georgia scrum but for the most part they held their own in that department but surprisingly their lineout wobbled and a few chances were let slip from promising positions in the opening half.

Both sides were guilty of sloppy handling in the sticky conditions before the afternoon rain in Stellenbosch and Ireland had to settle for a six-point interval lead.

Similar to their emphatic win over Italy in the opening game, Ireland hit the front from a penalty down the left after Sean Edogbo won it inside his own half. Ireland executed the lineout and after debutant Ruben Moloney was stopped short in a multi-phase move, the experienced Hugh Gavin cut a perfect line to get over, with his Connacht academy team-mate Sean Naughton adding the extras to make it 7-0