Points by Colin Ryan, Fergal Lynch and Diarmuid McMahon had the teams level six minutes later.

Centre forward, Martin Power, opened Rathgormack's account in the 10th minute and within eight minutes he had the teams on parity.

That had the teams tied at 59-59.

So tightly matched had the teams been that only four points separated them over 12 Tests, Ireland having a slight edge, 672-668.