Shane Williams scored the match winning try on 51 minutes to equal Gareth Thomas’s Wales try scoring record. Wing wizard Williams touched down for his 40th Test try to hand Warren Gatland a fourth straight RBS Six Nations victory of the season and their first win in Ireland since 2000.
Stephen Jones scored eight points and James Hook added a penalty with five minutes remaining to cancel Ronan O’Gara 12-point haul.
Gatland was handed a blow on the eve of the match as Huw Bennett was a late withdrawal with flu and Matthew Rees took his place at hooker.
Ireland began strongly and took the lead on four minutes when Martyn Williams was penalised for killing the ball. O’Gara duly converted from in front of the posts and then extended the hosts’ advantage on 19 minutes when Jonathan Thomas was caught offside.
It was a nightmare opening 20 minutes for the dragons as O’Gara continued to pile on the pressure with a delightful kick which struck the base of the corner flag.
But Wales held out and Shane Williams launched a fantastic counter attack with a chip over Shane Horgan before beating scrum half Eoin Reddan to the bouncing ball.
As Gatland’s men increased their territory and possession, Ireland were penalised at a line-out and Jones reduced the deficit to three points. Wales had stepped up the tempo and looked the better side as the half drew to a close before Mike Phillips was yellow carded for putting a knee into the back of Marcus Horan off the ball.
But the visitors emerged from the interval with renewed vigour and Jones levelled the scores on 46 minutes with his second penalty before Gavin Henson produced a monster 60-metre kick deep into the Irish 22.
Phillips was back and Wales capitalised with the only try of the match. Jones’s flat pass released Williams who fended off Andrew Trimble’s challenge to touch down in the right corner. Jones converted and Wales held a 13-6 lead.
Wales suffered their second yellow card on 61 minutes when Martyn Williams tripped Reddan. O’Gara kicked two penalties to reduce the deficit to one point. But Irish replacement Bernard Jackman clattered Wales skipper Ryan Jones in the back and replacement Hook sealed the win.
Click Here for a Statistical Match Report from the Ireland v Wales Croke Park clash
