Ireland won their first IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest tonight but only after a dogged fight from a gritty Romanian side.

The Romanians were physical and aggressive throughout but Ireland, after leading by 14 at the break, really put the issue beyond doubt with an early second half try and then held out in a less than memorable second half when survival was mostly the key.

Yet there was a remarkable finish to the game, just as there was an amazing start, with each of the teams being awarded penalty tries in the last two minutes.

It was an exciting start, with Craig Gilroy picking the ball out of the skies in 30 seconds, launching an attack and then moving across to take a pass at the edge of a great backline move at the other side of the pitch only to drop a pass from Keatley which would of given Ireland the opening try in just a minute.

However, Ireland were awarded a penalty and the out half took the opportunity to give his side an early lead but Romania were level within two minutes from a Florin Vlaicu drop goal after a powerful scrum that highlighted all the doubts Ireland coaches had suggested might be a problem all week.

Keatley and Vliaicu both missed subsequent penalties as the battle continued to rage, with neither side giving much away. Ireland’s aim was certainly to keep the game away from the set scrums but unfortunately they were inaccurate and that allowed Romania to stay in a dominant position and, for the most part, Ireland were kept in their own part of the pitch, with defence the prime concern.

The first sign of relieving the pressure came after a Paul Marshall chip and Craig Gilroy was unfortunate not to get away from his marker. That was after 30 minutes, and in the searing heat, you would have expected Ireland would have liked a little bit of a lead.

But Ireland did go in front after a scrappy line out deliver from Romania and Dominic Ryan finished off for the score that Keatley converted. A lead of 10-3 was a bit of relief and it got better when Gilroy was rewarded with a try after good work from the out half and Eoin Griffin, Keatley knocking over the conversion over from the touchline.

Johne Murphy was sin binned as Ireland struggled in the few minutes after but a good line out win near danger territory eased the pressure. In fact Ireland nearly scored again but Billy Holland’s line break was called back for a forward pass.

Yet, within a minute of the re-start, Robin Copeland displayed the type of skill that he has shown at Cardiff Blues all season and he galloped away for a try from 40 metres for a try that Keatley converted, that still with 14 men.

Again, though, there were signs that Romania weren’t about to cave in and nothing came particularly easy, even when full back Gabriel Conache was shown yellow.

The big Romanian forwards continued to challenge in the physical areas and it asked questions of Ireland’s defence more than once. Billy Holland did particularly well to get under substitute winger Florin Sorugiu in the 64th minute to strop a seemingly certain try.

Dave Foley was sent to the bin in 75 minutes and that pushed Ireland to the limit of their endurance, with Johne Murphy joining a scrum on the line in the hope of keeping the home side out and remarkably they managed to hold out.

However, they conceded a penalty try in the closing stages for dragging down a maul and Vlaicu converted. Ireland got their revenge a minute later when Andrew Conway was blown into touch illegally and referee Ian Davies gave Ireland the advantage to go in under the posts, with Keatley converting.

Emerging Ireland: J Murphy (Munster), C Gilroy (Ulster), E Griffin (Connacht), S McCloskey (Ulster), A Conway (Munster), I Keatley (Munster), P Marshall (Ulster), J Ryan (Munster), J Tracy (Leinster), M Bent (Leinster), B Holland (Munster), D Foley (Munster), D Ryan (Leinster, captain), R Copeland (Munster), S Dougall (Munster).

Replacements: B Byrne (Leinster) for Tracy, R Lutton (Ulster) for Bent, T O’Donnell for Dougall (all 60), B Macken for E Griffin (66), JJ Hanrahan for McCloskey (67)

Romania: G Conache, S Hihetah, C Desscalu, C Gal, I Dmitru, F Vaicu, V Ivan, C Pristavita, E Capatana, H Pungea, V Popirlan, M Sirba, V Lucaci, M Macovel (captain), D Carpo.

Replacements: A Ilie for Descalu (49), A Tarus for Pungea(49), F Lazar for (53), F Lazar for Dumitru (65)

Referee I Davies (Wales)