Women's Six Nations 2024: Ireland 21-27 Italy - visitors deny hosts long-awaited Six Nations win

Ireland's last Six Nations win came in April 2022

Italy withstood a late fightback from Ireland to earn a bonus-point Six Nations win in Dublin on Sunday.

Two Vittoria Vecchini tries and another from Valeria Fedrighi had Italy 22-7 ahead midway through the second half.

Ireland rallied with a Neve Jones try before Aura Muzzo sealed the bonus point with a fourth Italian try.

A breakaway Katie Corrigan score gave Ireland late hope of a first Six Nations win in almost two years, but Italy held on for victory.

• Ireland v Italy as it happened

Ireland's last Six Nations win came against Scotland in April 2022 and they had targeted this game as their best opportunity to get a much-needed victory in the championship.

Despite losing in France last week, it was a much-improved Ireland performance and hopes were high another good display could lead to that elusive victory.

Hopes were raised further early on at the RDS Arena when the hosts were awarded a penalty try after seven minutes.

Full-back Vittoria Minuzzi went to the sin-bin for a cynical knock-on of Eve Higgins' attempted pass to Beibhinn Parsons and after checking with the TMO, referee Hollie Davidson awarded the seven points.

Ireland Sevens' star Beibhinn Parsons has returned to the 15s game for the 2024 Six Nations campaign

Ireland had plenty of territory and possession in the opening quarter but handling errors cost them. They made five to Italy's one, and several knock-ons undid a lot of good work with ball in hand.

They were made to regret their failure to turn early dominance into points when Vecchini scored the first of her two tries on 25 minutes after a rolling maul.

Seven minutes later, in only their second foray into the Ireland '22 lock Fedrighi dotted down under the posts from close range after a powerful run and impressive leg drive from Sara Tounesi.

Beatrice Rigoni added the conversion and followed it up with a penalty five minutes before half-time to put Italy 15-7 ahead.

Full-back Lauren Delany was stretchered off with a neck injury before the break of a first half that was laboured at times and littered with stoppages.

The home side were on the front foot after half-time as an errant kick from Ilaria Arrighetti fell straight to Corrigan, but the wing was forced into touch just shy of the tryline.

The third quarter was scrappy from both teams with no real sightings of a score until Vecchini's second try after 57 minutes.

An outstanding break by wing Alyssa D'Inca lit up the RDS and the play ended with Vecchini rumbling over, as Rigoni's conversion built the Azzurre lead to 22-7.

Aoife Wafer celebrates an Ireland try

Scott Bemand's side looked in serious trouble but they fought back well in the fourth quarter, first with Jones' try in the 62nd minute.

A perfectly executed line-out maul was finished by Jones dotting down, with Dannah O'Brien adding the extras to reduce the deficit to 22-14.

Italy wrapped up the bonus point 12 minutes from the end as winger Muzzo, who minutes earlier had a try disallowed for a forward pass, gathered brilliantly from a superb pass out wide by Rigoni to make no mistake at the second time of asking.

Leading 27-14, the visitors must have felt the game was won but a breakaway try from 18-year-old winger Corrigan on 78 minutes gave Ireland late hope.

When they kicked a penalty to the corner and captain Sam Monaghan won the line-out they found themselves camped on the Italian line as the clock ticked into the red, but Italy held out for a deserved win.

Ireland: Delany; Corrigan, Higgins, Breen, Parsons; O'Brien, Reilly; Djougang, Jones, Haney, Wall, Monaghan, Moore, Wafer, Hogan.

Replacements: Delaney, O'Dowd, McGrath, Tuite, Corri, Scuffil-McCabe, Fowley, Dalton.

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Rigoni, Stevanin, D'Inca; Madia, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Seye, Fedrighi, Duca, Tounesi, Sgorbini, Arrighetti.

Replacements: Gurioli, Maris, Gai, Locatelli, Veronese, Frangipani, Granzotto, Capomaggi.