Ireland U20s 73-22 USA U20s

Munster out-half Charlie O’Shea and Connacht centre Sean Walsh led the way with a hat trick of tries as the Ireland Under-20s trashed USA by 73-22 in the final Pool C match of the 2026 Junior World Championships in Georgia.

It was an 11-try victory in the end for Ireland, enough to secure third place in the pool with eight points.

Head coach Andrew Browne rotated heavily for this one, with 11 changes in all, largely led by the short five day turnaround between games. Following defeats to England and Argentina, they were aiming to finish the pool stages on a high in Tiblisi.

And they delivered with the fastest possible start. Half-back pairing Christopher Barrett and Charlie O’Shea both dotted down within the first four minutes, with returning Ulster utility-back Daniel Green landing both conversions.

On the quarter hour, Joe Finn turned provider for Connacht centre Sean Walsh to score following a rampaging run, after the US had trimmed the deficit back to 11.

Following an extended period of US pressure, which included a disallowed try, Ireland secured their bonus point score before the half hour mark. Out-half Charlie O’Shea running in a stunning solo score from halfway to get his second of the afternoon.

The Cork man secured his hat-trick less than two minutes later with an evasive finish, flicking the ball into his hands like a Gaelic footballer before racing in.

From there it proved to be one way traffic with Sean Walsh grabbing his second soon after, while his midfield partner Rob Carney got in on the act before the break also.

Connacht academy prop Adam Cooper took Ireland to the 50 point barrier with a try to kickstart the second half, following an American response through winger Finn Love.

Centre Walsh completed his hat trick moments later after some tidy build up play by Luke McLaughlin sent him free down the touchline, while winger Daniel Ryan showed a clean pair of heels to race away for Ireland’s tenth try of the game just after a ‘cooling break’.

Fellow back-three Charlie Molony was given a second yellow card heading into the final quarter for a questionable challenge in the air call, despite winning possession.

The US launched a brief fightback in the closing stages with Joseph Sarkees and Leo Keesler-Venables getting their names on the scoresheet, but the final act would go to Jack Deegan, as the Leinster academy centre powered his way past three attempted tacklers to score.

Ireland will now move into the playoff stages as one of the third placed sides battling it out to finish ninth in the tournament.

Scorers

Ireland: Tries: Charlie O’Shea (3), Sean Walsh (3), Christopher Barrett, Rob Carney, Adam Cooper, Daniel Ryan, Jack Deegan.

Cons: Daniel Green (9)

USA: Tries: Finn Love, Joseph Sarkees, Leo Keesler-Venables

Cons: Jack Firebrace (2)

Pen: Declan Cadden

Ireland: Daniel Green; Charlie Molony, Rob Carney, Sean Walsh, Johnny O’Sullivan; Charlie O’Shea, Christopher Barrett; Adam Cooper, Duinn Maguire, Blake McClean; Sean Walsh, Joe Finn; Charlie Keane, Ben Blaney (capt), Alex Lautsou.

Replacements: Luke McLaughlin (for Maguire, 47), Max Doyle (for Cooper, 72), Jamie Conway (for McClean, 47), Paddy Woods (for Finn, 59), Diarmaid O’Connell (for Keane, 68), Luke Coffey (for Barrett, 53), Jack Deegan (for Carney, 60), Daniel Ryan (for O’Shea, 53).