Hooker Dan Sheehan scored two tries to steer Ireland to a 29-16 victory over England on Saturday for their fourth Five/Six Nations Grand Slam.
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton became the Six Nations’ all-time record scorer after conceding a penalty, which would also convert Sheehan’s second and another try by Robbie Henshaw.
It was a dream Six Nations Test final for the talismanic Irish fly-half.
Ireland went into the game knowing a win or a draw would be enough to seal the title, but were made to work by England, who had full-back Freddie Steward sent off on the stroke of half-time.
England started brightly and put the first points on the board with Owen Farrell slotting through a penalty in the eighth minute, and a second three-pointer shortly after.
The Irish ramped up the pressure but were caught out by an unforced error with James Lowe throwing away possession with a loose blind pass.
Sexton set his own personal landmark to score Six Nations points and got the hosts on the board with a penalty from distance in the 19th minute.
His motto was always for the team, no personal landmark was more important than Sheehan’s effort in the 33rd minute.
Ireland’s hooker, well fed by Josh van der Flier, burst through a gaping space in the English defense to touch down.
Sexton converted for 10-6 to put the Irish nose in front for the first time and roused the crowd before it was subdued.
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The Irish finished the half not only up in points but also people for good.
England fullback Steward was sent off after a lengthy debate when he tilted and connected with Hugo Keenan’s head, a collision that saw the Irishman replaced by Jimmy O’Brien.
England, helped by Ireland’s handling errors, took the game to the home team, Farrell Farrell reduced the lead to just a point in the 51st minute with the third penalty.
Ireland were rattled, epitomized by a nervous clearance kick by Sexton – the captain held his hands up to apologize to his team-mate and then waving his hands in the air to gee up.
Tempers were fraying with Ireland prop Andrew Porter having a go at Owen Farrell but after that Ryan Baird calmed them down with a brilliant turnover.
A few minutes later, Ireland eased the pressure as Henshaw, who missed a Grand Slam match in 2018 through injury, went down.
Sexton, whose brilliant cross resulted in a try, converted to make it 17-9 with just 15 minutes left.
Ireland finally put it to bed as a brilliant offload by Jack Conan to Sheehan saw the hooker go over in the corner, Sexton converting brilliantly from the touchline.
England, however, did not bow with Jamie George going over for Farrell’s converted try.
Seconds later Sexton limped off the pitch for the last time in a Six Nations match – shrugging off a member of the medical staff who wanted to help him – and received a standing ovation.
England lost another man with the clock ticking down as Jack Willis sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.
Appropriately when Sheehan was named man of the match, his replacement as hooker, Rob Herring, went off – Ross Byrne’s conversion went wide.
However, none of that mattered as the seconds ticked down, the crowd erupted into ‘Fields of Athenry’, and it was a perfect Six Nations farewell for Sexton in his hometown.