Having fallen behind to an opportunist Jose do Carmo Camara score, busy back rowers Coghlan and Jack Kelleher hit back with unconverted efforts after 24 and 28 minutes respectively, to give the visitors a 10-7 half-time lead.
The wet and windy conditions proved tricky at times, but slick handling created the best try of the lot for winger Craig Adams, before replacement Bobby Sheehan, younger brother of Leinster and Ireland star Dan, barged over from a 56th-minute maul.
Hooker Sheehan was one of 22 new caps for the Ireland Club international team on the night, as some of the most consistent performers in this season’s Energia All-Ireland League got to test themselves against international opposition.
Captain Nuno Sousa Guedes and scrum half Pedro Lucas were part of Portugal’s 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, and the hosts whittled the margin down to three points in the end, with Francisco Galveias and Alfredo Almeira both crossing late on.
Still, with limited preparation time together, it was an assured performance from Skehan’s charges, particularly between the start of the second quarter and the hour mark. Captain Harrison Brewer led the team well, and was presented with the trophy afterwards.
After Michael Moloney’s missed conversion, Conor Bartley forced a scrum penalty out of Andre Arrojado. A well-worked lineout maul did the trick, with Donnellan breaking off and feeding the supporting Kelleher to go over in the left corner.
It remained 10-7 to Skehan’s men, with Moloney narrowly missing the difficult conversion on the near side. The Ireland Club team remained on the front foot, aided by Clohessy winning a turnover at the breakdown and Coghlan carrying twice to good effect.
They did exert some pressure near the Portuguese line nearing the interval. Moloney got every inch out of a penalty kick to the corner, but a Donnellan-controlled maul was halted short, and then centre Peter Sylvester was held up at close range.
The men in green opened the second period in terrific fashion, scoring inside 70 seconds. Full-back La Grue provided the attacking zip with two purposeful runs, and Conor Kelly’s nicely-weighted pass put Eddy through a gap and he fed Adams to cross in the left corner.
Credit to Bartley and Brewer for their carries to suck in defenders during the build-up to the try. With the blustery wind adding to the difficulty, Moloney’s conversion attempt fell wide, leaving it 15-7.
Despite losing a scrum against the head, Portugal ‘A’ regrouped and got their attack firing again despite the greasy ball. Winger Galveias got a chance to stretch his legs down the left touchline, but the tricky Sousa Gomes was turned over by Campbell Classon near the Irish posts.
Lucas’ dink over the top almost released Galveias for the whitewash soon after, but Adams came up trumps with a try-saving tackle. The newly-introduced Sheehan then forced a knock-on from Lucas at the ruck.
Coghlan carried hard and also showed soft hands to send replacement Bradley Luney breaking back up towards halfway. With Portugal ‘A’ caught offside, they were unable to stop another powerful Irish drive which saw Sheehan pile over in swift fashion.
Portugal ‘A’ had a prolonged attacking spell, either side of the hour mark, and despite a lung-busting break from deep by La Grue, the Ireland Club XV could not add to their lead.
Adams was tackled a few metres short in the 69th minute, following good work by replacement Rhys O’Donnell and La Grue. The Irish bench had been emptied at that stage, with eight more Club international debutants getting a run-out.
Brewer foiled one Portuguese break with a turnover penalty, but the hosts finished strongly. A sharp backs move put Galveias over, before Francisco Perloiro caught a Sousa Guedes kick and offloaded off the ground to send Almeira speeding over from 40 metres out.
Scorers:
Portugal ‘A’: Tries: Jose do Carmo Camara, Francisco Galveias, Alfredo Almeira; Con: Manuel Vareiro<br>
Ireland Club XV: Tries: Jordan Coghlan, Jack Kelleher, Craig Adams, Bobby Sheehan