Ulster scrum-half Isaac Boss captained Ireland A to victory over Canada

Ireland waited until the final quarter before getting their Churchill Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 30-19 success over Canada in Colorada.

Canada had lead 16-13 at the break with Ireland's Denis Hurley and Fergus McFadden crossing for tries and Niall O'Connor landing a penalty.

An O'Connor penalty on the restart and a penalty try midway through the half saw Ireland get on top.

The Irish victory was sealed by a try by Denis Fogarty near the end.

Full-back Hurley grabbed the opening try after only three minutes with Ander Monro replying for Canada with the first of his three penalties.

McFadden jinked his way over in the 13th minute to give Ireland 10-6 lead before Phil Mack crossed for Canada with Monro converting.

O'Connor, who was having an off-day with his kicking managed a penalty either side of the break with Monro adding his third penalty as Canada held the lead again for the last time.

Ireland took over in the final quarter with Devin Toner, Sean O'Brien and Chris Henry effective up front.

The Irish scrum proved too strong for the Canadians in the in the 69th minute with referee Matt Goddard awarding a penalty try and replacement Jonathan Sexton converting. The same player added the extras to Fogarty's try a minute from the end.

The Ireland second string side will now face Georgia in their next match in Colorado on Sunday while the tournament final will take place on 21 June.

Ireland A: Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster); Fionn Carr (Galwegians/Connacht), Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster), Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht), Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers); Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) (capt); Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Neil Best (Northampton Saints), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster).

Replacements: Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) for Young (57 mins), Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster) for Cronin, Frank Murphy (Buccaneers/Connacht) for Carr (both 62), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster) for O'Connor (64), John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht) for O'Brien (72), Trevor Hogan (Blackrock College/Leinster) for Ryan, James Downey (Northampton Saints) for Matthews (both 80).

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