Ulster scrumhalf Larissa Muldoon crossed for a first half try as Ireland battled their way to a 19-17 win over Australia on the opening night of Women's Rugby World Cup 2017.
Replacements Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence scored crucial second half tries in the tense clash at UCD Bowl.
Captain Claire Molloy said she was 'proud of the grit' shown by the tournament hosts against an inspired Wallaroos side, as the vocal crowd roared Tom Tierney's charges over the line in a six-try thriller.
A scrappy first half full of bruising hits ended 7-5 in Ireland's favour, Muldoon striking first for a 20th-minute converted score before Mahalia Murphy - one of three Sevens regulars in the Australian side - ran in a snappy effort near the half hour mark.
Australian skipper Shannon Parry's 56th-minute try went unconverted before the Irish bench, including prop Ciara O'Connor who solidified the scrum, had a huge impact. Tigerish flanker Ciara Griffin drove in under a couple of defenders for a vital try - converted by Nora Stapleton - just a few minutes after her introduction.
Spence added try number three in the 70th minute, also crashing over from close range, to give Ireland some rare breathing space. Australia made them sweat right to the finish thanks to a Hilisha Samoa try, converted by Ashleigh Hewson, but with Sene Naoupu coming to the fore late on, it was the girls in green who pocketed four very hard-earned points in Pool C.
Ireland's overall performance was lacking in a number of departments, but the winning start and some impressive individual displays - the lineout-stealing of Marie Louise Reilly saw her named the Aon player-of-the-match - will see them hungry for more against Japan on Sunday evening.
TIME LINE: 19 minutes - Ireland try: Larissa Muldoon - 5-0; conversion: Nora Stapleton - 7-0; 27 mins - Australia try: Mahalia Murphy - 7-5; conversion: missed by Samantha Treherne - 7-5; Half-time - Ireland 7 Australia 5; 56 mins - Australia try: Shannon Parry - 7-10; conversion: missed by Samantha Treherne - 7-10; 62 mins - Ireland try: Ciara Griffin - 12-10; conversion: Nora Stapleton - 14-10; 70 mins - Ireland try: Sophie Spence - 19-10; conversion: missed by Nora Stapleton - 19-10; 73 mins - Australia try: Hilisha Samoa - 19-15; conversion: Ashleigh Hewson - 19-17; Full-time - Ireland 19 Australia 17
Tickets for the semi final and finals at Kingspan Stadium and Queen's University later this month are available from ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017.
Replacements Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence scored crucial second half tries in the tense clash at UCD Bowl.
Captain Claire Molloy said she was 'proud of the grit' shown by the tournament hosts against an inspired Wallaroos side, as the vocal crowd roared Tom Tierney's charges over the line in a six-try thriller.
A scrappy first half full of bruising hits ended 7-5 in Ireland's favour, Muldoon striking first for a 20th-minute converted score before Mahalia Murphy - one of three Sevens regulars in the Australian side - ran in a snappy effort near the half hour mark.
Australian skipper Shannon Parry's 56th-minute try went unconverted before the Irish bench, including prop Ciara O'Connor who solidified the scrum, had a huge impact. Tigerish flanker Ciara Griffin drove in under a couple of defenders for a vital try - converted by Nora Stapleton - just a few minutes after her introduction.
Spence added try number three in the 70th minute, also crashing over from close range, to give Ireland some rare breathing space. Australia made them sweat right to the finish thanks to a Hilisha Samoa try, converted by Ashleigh Hewson, but with Sene Naoupu coming to the fore late on, it was the girls in green who pocketed four very hard-earned points in Pool C.
Ireland's overall performance was lacking in a number of departments, but the winning start and some impressive individual displays - the lineout-stealing of Marie Louise Reilly saw her named the Aon player-of-the-match - will see them hungry for more against Japan on Sunday evening.
TIME LINE: 19 minutes - Ireland try: Larissa Muldoon - 5-0; conversion: Nora Stapleton - 7-0; 27 mins - Australia try: Mahalia Murphy - 7-5; conversion: missed by Samantha Treherne - 7-5; Half-time - Ireland 7 Australia 5; 56 mins - Australia try: Shannon Parry - 7-10; conversion: missed by Samantha Treherne - 7-10; 62 mins - Ireland try: Ciara Griffin - 12-10; conversion: Nora Stapleton - 14-10; 70 mins - Ireland try: Sophie Spence - 19-10; conversion: missed by Nora Stapleton - 19-10; 73 mins - Australia try: Hilisha Samoa - 19-15; conversion: Ashleigh Hewson - 19-17; Full-time - Ireland 19 Australia 17
Tickets for the semi final and finals at Kingspan Stadium and Queen's University later this month are available from ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017.