Ireland 32 Italy 17
Winger John Kelly scored two tries on his debut as Ireland laboured to a 32-17 Six Nation Championship win over Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
Ireland never looked in trouble securing their third win of the competition, but failed to catch fire against a dogged Italian team who battled hard but made things tough for themselves through lack of discipline.
Kelly crossed the line in both halves, and had a hand in Ireland's third try by fellow winger Denis Hickie which put the game beyond Italy, who lost their fourth straight game.
Italy kept themselves in the hunt with a try from flanker Mauro Bergamasco and a stunning drop goal from fullback Gert Peens, but prop Giampiero de Carli's last-gasp try came too late to put the home side under pressure. Flyhalf Diego Dominguez missed two penalties but slotted a brace of conversions, the second with the last kick of the match.
The home side steadied their nerves with a score after four minutes when Italy were penalised for diving in at a ruck, presenting flyhalf David Humphreys with the most straightforward of penalties in front of the posts.
The Ulsterman, captaining Ireland in the continued absence of Keith Wood, made no mistake with his kick, setting a new Irish points-scoring record after equalling the previous best of 308 in the last match against Scotland.
With seven minutes gone Ireland came close to scoring a try. As Italy launched an attack close to the halfway line scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon's kick was charged down by lock Malcolm O'Kelly, and as the Italian struggled to recover the ball number eight Anthony Foley hacked it forward.
Centre Brian O'Driscoll hared off in pursuit, but after a consultation with the video referee the Irishman's opposite number Cristian Stoica was adjudged to have just beaten him to touch the ball down.
Humphreys had added two more penalties when the Irish next threatened the Italian line. With prop Salvatore Perugini sent to the sin bin for butting scrumhalf Peter Stringer the Irishmen laid siege to the Italian tryline, but somehow the blue-shirted defenders held out.
As halftime beckoned Ireland finally crossed the Italian line, Kelly busting through the tackle of opposite number Denis Dallan before running in close to the corner flag.
Ronan O'Gara, a temporary blood replacement for Humphreys, landed the conversion and minutes later slotted another penalty after de Carli had been sent to join his front-row colleague Perugini in the sin bin for throwing a punch.
Just before the break Dominguez, normally one of the most reliable kickers in world rugby, missed a penalty from in front of the posts to keep the halftime score to 19-0.
Italy put their first points on the board shortly after the restart, when Peens gathered the ball on the halfway line before landing a fine drop goal.
The Italians were enjoying their best spell, but with 48 minutes gone found themselves further behind when Kelly went over for his second try.
After some smart build-up play in midfield from O'Driscoll and fellow centre Shane Horgan, Humphreys exchanged passes with first lock Gary Longwell then prop Peter Clohessy before releasing the Munster winger.
But Italy were not finished and soon hit back with a try of their own.
After a period of pressure inside the Irish 22-metre line centre Giovani Raineri broke through the defensive line, and when he was brought down Bergamasco pounced on the ball and barged forward to touch down close to the posts. The video referee was called on again and ruled the Italian had made the line.
With the score at 24-10 Italy continued to press, but when they were awarded another penalty Dominguez struck the post.
Humphreys landed another penalty before good work from Kelly and fullback Girvan Dempsey released Hickie for Ireland's third try.
Deep into injury-time de Carli popped up on the right wing to finish off an Italian move with a try, and Dominguez landed his second conversion with the final kick of the game.