Talking point: So Ireland stay alive and kicking in the Six Nations Championship, knocking France out of the title equation on a day in which Scotland took care of Wales's ambitions at Murrayfield. Three teams left in it with unbeaten England playing Italy at Twickenham on Sunday and still everything to play for.

Key man: Conor Murray grabbed the only try of the game and put in his best performance of the tournament so far as he and Johnny Sexton guided Ireland to this much-needed victory. It was the expected grind against an immensely physical French side and Jamie Heaslip also merited praise for his tireless work in the back row.

Ref watch: For such a physical contest Nigel Owens presided over an essentially good, clean fight which saw Ireland punish every French moment of ill-discipline, their penalty count into double figures.

Penalties conceded: Ireland 8 France 13

Injuries: Ireland full-back Rob Kearney was replaced early in the second half having just received treatment on the pitch. Head coach Joe Schmidt explained that Kearney had lost his footing on the slick surface and felt discomfort in an adductor muscle. He will be assessed for the extent of the problem over the next 24 to 48 hours. Otherwise, there were no immediately apparent further problems for Schmidt.

Next up: Preparations for the March 10 clash with Wales under the Friday night lights in Cardiff begin today at the Aviva Stadium when Ireland stage an open training session in front of their fans, buoyed by this victory that keeps title hopes alive.

Match report

Johnny Sexton shrugged off France's latest bully-boy tactics to pilot Ireland's stubborn 19-9 Six Nations victory in Dublin.

Sexton copped a heavy, late hit from former Racing 92 team-mate Eddy Ben Arous, but shook off any damage to end the day with an 11-point haul in Ireland's fine triumph.

Conor Murray sneaked home for the game's sole try to keep Ireland's Six Nations title hopes alive, with Paddy Jackson also posting a late penalty.

Sexton has been knocked unconscious, suffered a nasty black eye and been put on his backside from countless late hits in a string of gritty clashes with France in the last four years.

His old Racing team-mate Ben Arous had even vowed to "go after" Sexton "200 per cent" at the World Cup in 2015, only for Ireland to prevail 24-9.

Sexton suffered two questionable late tackles in this latest skirmish with Les Bleus, but emerged unscathed and victorious in his first match in a month after calf trouble.

The 31-year-old was replaced by Jackson in the final quarter, but for once against the French his withdrawal was not enforced.

Sexton's immediate return to form after a niggling calf injury will leave Lions boss Warren Gatland hoping Ireland's linchpin can reignite his top form ahead of the summer's tour to New Zealand.

Ireland's sole concern from another bruising encounter remained a potential groin injury to full-back Rob Kearney.

Ireland rode their luck to sneak a 7-6 lead into the break, with only a marginal knock-on costing France a fine score.

Baptiste Serin's searing break had already failed to yield a try, with the scrum-half catching Jack McGrath napping round a ruck, when Remi Lamerat had a score chalked off for a forward pass.

The visitors had to settle for two Lopez penalties at the interval then, as Gael Fickou's minor knock-on was well spotted by the officials.

Lopez's smart kick-pass caught Ireland cold, with Yoann Huget stepping in off his wing to feed Fickou, who could not quite complete the pass to his centre partner Lamerat without the critical error.

Ireland could breathe easy at the mid point of the half then, but were still frustrated with poor ball retention and sloppy restart work.

The hosts then botched two fine attacking platforms before forcing the breakthrough that proved enough for the slender half-time advantage.

Henshaw's brave, tight line from a five-metre scrum set the platform, and Murray sniped home in style.

Ireland were left to bemoan wasting another gilt-edged opportunity though, winning four penalties in France's 22 only for the visitors to then steal possession all too easily at a maul.

Ireland burst out of the blocks after the break, pouncing on Scott Spedding's high ball fumble.

Though McGrath was censured for running into his own man trying to drive round a ruck, the hosts quickly had a penalty when Serin was pinged for blocking Murray at the scrum.

Sexton slotted the penalty with ease to push Ireland into a four-point lead.

In driving rain Ireland then turned the screw, with Sexton dropping a fine goal thanks to the safety net of a penalty advantage.

Replacement lock Julien Le Devedec then put in the first questionable hit on Sexton as the French started to clutch at straws. Spedding immediately grabbed at thin air again, fumbling Sexton's latest Garryowen.

Ireland demolished France at the scrum, and Sexton slotted his second penalty, to push Schmidt's men into a 16-6 lead.

Ben Arous then flattened Sexton with a late hit, but the Ireland playmaker had already launched a fluent attack by sending Simon Zebo down the left flank.

Ireland ploughed through 18 phases, most with Sexton receiving treatment, before Spedding raced clear only for Zebo to recover his ambitious chip.

The hosts clung on through the lung-busting passage, ultimately snuffing out the danger when Kevin Gourdon was penalised at a ruck.

France mixed stealth and style to race the length once more, only for replacement Uini Atonio to concede a cheap penalty for a neck roll on Sean O'Brien.

Lopez slotted his third penalty of the day with six minutes to play, only for Jackson to hit back from the tee and restore Ireland's 10-point cushion.