But they were stunned by a superb Irish finale that culminated in full-back Mark McHugh booting a 50-metre penalty with the game’s final kick.

McHugh’s strike, which bounced over off a post, arrived in the sixth minute of injury-time to leave England crestfallen.

Ireland looked to be down and out when they trailed 18-14 entering the final eight minutes of normal time.

But an England side containing nine senior internationals were unable to finish the job.

Wing Tyrone Howe pounced for a 72nd-minute try, converted by scrum-half Brian O’Meara, edging Ireland 21-18 ahead, yet England looked to have secured a share of the spoils when fly-half Alex King slotted an 83rd-minute penalty.

McHugh though, had other ideas, and his match-winning effort sent the crowd wild just two days before the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam showdown between Ireland and England at Lansdowne Road.

Full-back Dan Scarborough scored a try in each half for England, yet the visitors lacked the fluency and invention that were prime features of their recent performances.

Ireland struck first with a second-minute try from hooker Paul Shields, but England responded with a penalty from temporary fly-half replacement Olly Barkley, before King hoisted them ahead on 27 minutes.

A punishing first-half took its toll as England briefly lost King and prop Robbie Morris through blood injuries, yet Scarborough’s 32nd-minute try secured an eight-point lead before O’Meara’s opening penalty cut the deficit.

England lost flanker Adam Vander when he limped off just before the break, but England stuck to their task after another O’Meara penalty when the impressive Scarborough rounded off a scintillating move that had prop Mike Worsley as its telling feature.

England could not shut the game out though, and when O’Meara completed his penalty hat-trick on 55 minutes, it offered renewed hope of a home victory.

And so it proved, although the Donnybrook audience could not have anticipated such an exciting conclusion.