Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara, winning his 50th cap, put in a man-of-the-match performance.

He landed a fourth-minute drop-goal to show Ireland's intent early on.

But England's response was impressive, and they took the lead on seven minutes when flanker Lewis Moody, only passed fit after recovering from a septic finger yesterday, powered into the heart of Ireland's defence.

Number eight Martin Corry supported him, and with the Irish defence temporarily absent without leave, he sprinted over from 35 metres out for a try that Hodgson, showing no apparent sign of nerves, converted.

It was a sucker-punch score, yet with the game continuing at a frantic pace, Ireland were soon back on the attack as O'Gara slotted a penalty when England's backs drifted offside, and O'Gara was at it again four minutes later, hoisting his side 9-7 ahead following an English technical offence.

England absorbed what Ireland could throw at them, and they had a chance to regain the lead when Hodgson lined up a 50m penalty. He struck the ball superbly and it sailed between the posts to edge England 10-9 ahead.

Hodgson was unrecognisable from the kicker that struggled so painfully against France two weeks ago, and with England's forwards giving as good as they got, Ireland knew their Grand Slam aspirations were under real threat.

It took a Corry knock-on, harshly whistled by Kaplan, to give Ireland an attacking platform. England's defence was stretched, prised almost to breaking point by O'Driscoll, and a second O'Gara drop-goal eight minutes before half-time put Ireland back in front.

O'Driscoll crossed England's line as the interval approached, but Kaplan had already spotted a knock-on during a concerted Irish build-up.

Hodgson rifled a superb cross-kick towards Cueto, who promptly gathered and touched down, yet Kaplan ruled that the Sale Sharks wing was offside, and Ireland escaped.

England began the second period with Hodgson nailing a kick deep inside the Irish 22, and Ireland were only able to clear when O'Gara sent a penalty 40 metres into touch.

After a skirmish between Corry and Ireland centre Shane Horgan, Ireland broke down field and O'Gara gained an angled penalty chance.

His kick drifted narrowly wide, giving England something of a let-off, and Hodgson took up the challenge, slotting another superbly-placed kick deep into the Irish 22.

The visitors needed a score to reward an impressive passage of play that easily matched their best form in this season's championship. A powerful Noon surge almost broke Irish resistance, yet England were not to be denied, and Hodgson slotted a 56th-minute drop-goal that made it 13-12.

Ireland, for the first time in this season's Six Nations, were being asked serious questions, but they replied majestically.

Wing Denis Hickie ran deep into the England half, supporting full-back Geordan Murphy somehow kept possession alive, and then delivered a brilliant pass to O'Driscoll, who scorched over.

O'Gara converted to make it 19-13, and suddenly, Lansdowne Road came alive.

The closing stages were inevitably nervy, and England sent on scrum-half Matt Dawson to replace Harry Ellis with 10 minutes remaining.

England kept plugging away, stretching Ireland's defence and answering real questions of the home side's organisation and poise.

Hodgson again kicked England to well inside Ireland's 22 - and despite the visitors powering on through their forwards, Ireland cleared the danger to raucous cheers.

England exerted every last drop of effort, yet it just was not enough - and Ireland held on to complete stage three of a potential championship clean sweep.