Paddy Wallace had to leave the field with a calf injury

All Wallace's points came in the first half while a Benjamin Boyet penalty got the visitors on the scoreboard before the interval.

A Jean-Baptiste Dambielle penalty then cut Ireland's lead to six points.

Despite French pressure, replacement Paul Burke's extended Ireland's lead before another late Boyet penalty.

The victory could come at a cost for Ulster as Wallace, Bryn Cunningham and Simon Best all picked up injuries and could be doubtful for next Friday's Celtic League game against Munster.

Ireland - with the wind behind them - established a healthy nine-point cushion within the opening 20 minutes as Wallace's boot punished French indiscipline with ruthless accuracy.

The visitors reduced the deficit when a high tackle from Bernard Jackman on Nicolas Durand allowed Benjamin Boyet to kick a simple penalty, but the impressive Wallace wrestled back the initiative with three more points.

Cunningham and Best both were forced off because of injury in the first half.

Full-back Cunningham sustained a collarbone injury while prop Best appeared to have picked up knee damage.

France dominated after the restart with full-back Jean-Baptiste Dambielle - who had taken over the kicking duties - slotting a penalty and Boyet threatening to cross.

France launched wave after wave of attacks after Irish substitute Ray Hogan had been sin-binned but Ireland held out valiantly.

Paul Burke, on for Wallace who appeared to have picked up a calf injury, gave Ireland some breathing space with five minutes to go.

But his penalty was soon cancelled out by another from Boyet whose kick meant France needed a converted try to win.

They poured forward in search of the winning score but the Irish held out for to win their only A game of the season.

Ireland A: Cunningham, Bowe, Lewis, D Quinlan, A Horgan, Wallace, Campbell, McCormack, Jackman, Best, McCullough, Casey, A Quinlan, Jennings, Wilson. Replacements: Shields, Hogan, Gissing, Wallace, O'Riordan, Burke, Payne.

France A: Dambielle, Arias, Coux, Bousses, Candelon, Boyet, Durand, Debaty, Terrain, Menkarska, Millo-Chulski, Nallet, Vallee, Rabadan, Dridi. Replacements: Capdevielle, Blin, Pierre, Froment, Pejone, Bomati, N. Laharague.