Ireland back-row Jack Conan said discipline issues and shaky defence cost the home side after their Grand Slam ambitions went up in smoke against a ravenous France at the Aviva Stadium.
Fabien Galthie's side ran in four second half tries, scoring 34 points without reply between the 47th and 75th minute as they secured an emphatic 42-27 point win in Dublin, the hosts going over for two converted tries in the dying minutes with the outcome already settled.
As in Cardiff, Ireland spent a total of 20 minutes with 14 men, this time due to two yellow cards, with Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash sent to the bin in either half, during which periods Man of the Match Louise Bielle-Biarrey registered both of his tries.
The result means that Ireland's push for a historic three-in-a-row of outright Six Nations titles is on life support, dependent on Scotland preventing a French victory in Paris next week and, even were that to occur, England would need to fail to take maximum points from their remaining games against Italy and Wales to give the defending champions a chance.
"I think discipline cost us hugely. Two yellow cards. You can't give France the advantage, they've such threats across the park.
"We just shot ourselves in the foot. Credit to them, they're very clinical and very accurate and took their scores well.
"We were a little bit soft in D (defence) at times. Missing first up tackles and soaking a little bit and letting them get a rumble on us."
Ireland had started with intent, dominating possession and territory in the opening 20 minutes but their pressure failed to yield a score with Caelan Doris being held up over the line by a combination of Paul Boudehent and Gregory Alldritt.
In the end, it was France who found the first try
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