Irish earn dramatic Triple Crown

Ireland secured the Triple Crown with a dramatic late victory over England.

Ireland had little chance of winning the Six Nations, but they did manage to secure the Triple Crown with a dramatic late victory over England as this year's championship came to a pulsating end.

With France winning in Wales earlier on Saturday, Ireland needed a hefty victory to win the Six Nations. 

That was never likely to happen at Twickenham, but there was drama as they secured a second straight win at Twickenham with a last-gasp try from Shane Horgan.

Eddie O'Sullivan's side had the better of the first half despite Jamie Noon's early try for England, but the hosts took control of the game in the second 40 minutes. 

Denis Leamy stole in for a second Irish try, but Andy Goode's fourth penalty looked to have given England the win until Horgan bagged his second try of the match just two minutes before the end.

England made a dream start and skipper Martin Corry led the breakthrough with a quick tap before storming over the gain line.

The hosts made quick ball available out wide and Noon showed good speed and strength to scramble over the line for the opening try after just two minutes, although Goode was unable to convert.

Ireland's response was swift and they hit back with a try of their own on courtesy of a major blunder from Ben Cohen as he made a mess of Brian O'Driscoll's low kick through.

Horgan capitalised as the England winger failed to react to the spill and the Irishman kicked along the line to score, although the ball did look to have touched the whitewash.

O'Gara missed the conversion, and the swirling Twickenham wind also played a part in him missing another penalty opportunity, although he did get one over on 14 minutes to put Ireland 8-5 up.

Goode responded in kind with two missed penalty attempts of his own as England looked to get a foothold in the game, although Ireland continued to look the more dangerous.

Simon Shaw saw yellow for England on 33 minutes, and O'Gara did take advantage this time by kicking the penalty for 11-5.

Goode eventually found his kicking boots when he drilled his fourth effort at goal under the wind this time and between the posts to reduce the deficit down to three.

Ireland were forcing the issue with a man advantage, but O'Gara could not convert their domination into points as he missed another penalty on the stroke of half time.

O'Gara and Goode traded penalties inside a minute early in the second half as the gap remained just three points at 14-11.

But, as the second half progressed, England began to build a platform to attack from and Steve Borthwick scored his first try for his country when he galloped through a huge whole in the Irish defence to touchdown under the posts, enabling Goode to kick and easy conversion.

The hosts had their tails up, but another error cost them a try as Denis Leamy stole in to collect a botched lineout throw by England just yards from their own line.

O'Gara converted to get Ireland back in front at 21-18, but the home team re-gathered themselves and managed to draw level with 11 minutes left to play as Goode nailed a lengthy kick following the sin-binning of Simon Easterby.

The hosts powered forward in the closing stages, and the Irish gave away a penalty five minutes from time after killing the ball, and Goode hit his best kick of the match from wide out on the right to put England ahead 24-21.

However, a pulsating game turned on its head yet again in injury time.

O'Driscoll's mesmerising break from inside his half got Ireland on the attack and Horgan, who had been denied first time round by a great Lewis Moody tackle, dived in at the corner with only two minutes left to play.

O'Gara kicked a glorious conversion from right on the touchline to seal a 28-24 victory for the Irish, who had to settle for a second Triple Crown in three years as they only missed out on the Six Nations crown to France on points difference.