Ireland Rugby Triple Crown 1985

1985 — Kiernan's late drop-goal clinches Ireland's second Triple Crown in three years

Saturday March 30
Ireland 13 England 10
Lansdowne Road

Ireland's Triple Crown year of 1985 will always be remembered as 'The Mick Doyle Triple Crown'. Doyle followed a controversial and initially unpopular policy of picking predominantly inexperienced players and persevering with a running game.

Three years after the 1982 triumph, Irish rugby was beginning to slip into the doldrums once again. Doyle discarded many of the older, popular players and replaced them with young tyros such as Brendan Mullen, Philip Matthews and Micheal Bradley. Older hand Willie Anderson was converted from No. 8 to a second row.

But the decision to play a running game at all costs was the pivotal decision. With a free flowing style that won over their critics Ireland advanced to a Triple Crown decider with England at Lansdowne Road.

The deciding game against England was tied at 10-10 when a Micheal Kiernan drop-goal in the closing minutes of a close match sealed a famous victory for Ireland and made the nephew of the other famous Irish international full back Tommy Kiernan an instant folk hero.