Jamie Heaslip celebrates after scoring the opening try for Ireland

Coach Declan Kidney felt Ireland should have beaten Scotland by more than the 21-18 scoreline in Sunday's Six Nations match at Murrayfield.

The Irish scored the game's three tries but another high penalty count kept the Scots in the contest right to the end.

"We are not overly happy. We probably scored 30 points but the trouble is nine were for them," said Kidney.

"We must look at the things we can control. We do contest the break down and make no apology for that."

However, Kidney felt the fact that there were only three points in it at the end should not take anything away from Ireland's achievement.

"We won the match. The way the things are in the country, why not celebrate that? Hopefully people will have a good night.

"It is a difficult place to come and win. We got three tries and we let a couple of others slip away.

"We will have a look at the break down and penalty count."

Man of the match Ronan O'Gara said there had been a sense of relief at the end.

"At this level the margins are very fine. We beat Italy by one score, lost to France by one score and have now beaten Scotland by one score," said O'Gara, now on 998 points for Ireland.

"It is all about the win and that is what we did."

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