Ireland's women came agonisingly close to a first ever Six Nations victory in a Thomond Park nail-biter on Sunday night.

Suzanne Fleming's girls in green put up a great fight when a penalty from full-back Sarahjane Belton seven minutes from the end brought the Irish to within sight.

But, in a thrilling finish which saw a Spanish flanker sin-binned for killing the ball, Ireland just failed to nail home their advantage.

Defeat was heartbreaking for the Irish, but this result marked a massive improvement on the 42-0 thrashing in Barcelona last season.

Ulster captain Rachel Reid put Ireland ahead with a penalty in the opening minutes, a lead which they held until the second quarter.

Spain struck on 25 minutes, when their full-back came into the line to cross for a try and then followed up with a penalty five minutes from the break.