Dungannon's Seamus Mallon in action during the Dubai Sevens

The Irish had earlier crashed out of the Bowl competition after losing 29-19 to Keyna.

However, they defeated Canada 24-17 in the Shield semi-final to register their only victory in the tournament.

Ireland finished third in their pool after drawing 12-12 with Portugal and losing to South Africa and Fiji.

Earlier on Friday morning, Loughborough's Mark Bruce scored twice to put Ireland 12-5 ahead against Kenya who struck back with four tries in the last five minutes.

Niall Ronan scored Ireland's other try.

On Thursday, the Irish had gone down 35-12 to 2003 champions South Africa who beaten by england in the semi-finals of the main competition.

First-half tries from Ballymena forward Michael McComish and Dolphin scrum-half Tomas O'Leary helped Ryan Constable's side to a half-time lead.

But the Springboks were unstoppable after the restart, with Jaco van Schalkwyk scoring a 25-point individual haul, including three tries.

Ballymena's Michael McComish gets the ball away against Kenya

Eddie Fredericks and Lesley Jackson grabbed the other touch downs for South Africa.

In their opening game of the tournament, Ireland had lost 38-17 to Fiji.

The Irish tries came from Belfast Harlequins fly-half Ian Humphreys, McComish and Mark Bruce of Loughborough University.

Humphreys, brother of Ireland fly-half David, also landed a conversion.

Fiji's try-scorers were Jone Daunivucu, Watisoni Gonewai, Neumi Nanuku, Mosese Luveitasau (2), and Tuidriva Bainivalu.

It was Ireland's first World Series Sevens competition for a number of years, and they will go to South Africa looking to improve their ranking order which was 13th before the Dubai tournament.

Friday's results

Cup
Quarter-finals: New Zealand 31 Scotland 0; Fiji 14 Samoa 7; South Africa 19 Argentina 12; England 24 Australia 5.
Semi-finals: New Zealand 12-22 Fiji, South Africa 5-14 England.
Final: England 26-21Fiji

Plate
Semi-finals: Scotland 15-33 Samoa, Argentina 24-19 Australia.
Final: Samoa 21-19 Argentina.

Bowl:
Quarter-finals: Canada 14 France 17, Ireland 19 Kenya 29, Portugal 5 Tunisia 0, Uganda 21 Arabian Gulf 14.
Semi-finals: France 17 Kenya 7, Portugal 38 Uganda 0.
Final: France 5-10 Portugal.