O'Shea and Walsh hit hat-tricks as Ireland demolish USA 73-22 at Junior World Championship

Charlie O’Shea and Sean David Walsh scored hat-tricks apiece as Ireland ended their World Rugby Junior World Championship Pool C campaign with a 73-22 demolition of the USA, recovering from opening losses to England and Argentina.

Ireland needed just 81 seconds to open the scoring, scrum-half Christopher Barrett crossing first before O’Shea weaved through for his debut try four minutes in. Walsh added a third in the 16th minute following a barnstorming run and offload from Joe Finn, and Ireland never relinquished control from that point.

O’Shea completed his hat-trick inside the first half hour, grabbing his second after 28 minutes and his third two minutes later after collecting a loose ball in midfield. Walsh scored his second from close range on 33 minutes, and after a monster turnover-forcing hit set up Rob Carney, Ireland led 45-3 at the break.

The second half brought complications. Charlie Molony was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on in the 42nd minute, and the USA took immediate advantage when Finn Love scored two minutes later. Molony later received a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge in the air, leaving Ireland to finish the game with 14 men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ireland continued to add to their tally. Adam Cooper crossed in the 48th minute before Walsh completed his hat-trick four minutes later. USA scrum-half Joseph Sarkees and Ireland replacement Daniel Ryan exchanged tries, and Leo Keesler-Venables scored with an outrageous dummy for the Americans.

Ireland had the final word, however, with Jack Deegan touching down four minutes from time and Dan Green converting for the ninth time to seal a comprehensive victory. The win came too late to alter Ireland’s pool standing after their earlier defeats, but the margin and the individual performances — particularly O’Shea, who began the tournament as understudy to Tom Wood — will provide encouragement heading into the knockout stages.