Wales players look dejected in the final minutes of the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland's Dave Kearney is tackled by Wales Alun-Wyn Jones (left) during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland's Paul O'Connell (bottom, C) reacts during their Six Nations rugby union match against Wales at the Aviva stadium

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton and Wales's Liam Williams during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll (centre) after victory over Wales during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium,

Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll after victory over Wales during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium,

Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland, is tackled by Sam Warburton, right, and George North

Ireland fans celebrate after Paddy Jackson scores their side's second try

Dan Tuohy, Ireland, leaves the field with an injury having replaced Paul O'Connell during the second half

Mike Phillips, Wales, tussles with Rob Kearney, Ireland, after Paddy Jackson scored Ireland's second try

Ireland's Paddy Jackson touches down to score his side's second try

Peter O'Mahony, Ireland is tackled by Andrew Coombs

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell, left, and Brian O'Driscoll after their side's victory

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton before the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Wales's Andrew Coombs is tackled by Ireland's Conor Murray

Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll is tackled by Wales's Sam Warburton

Ireland's Devin Toner wins the lineout from Wales's Taulupe Faletau during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Ireland's Paul O'Connell and Wales's Taulupe Faletau during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy against Wales George North (left) and Alex Cuthbert during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin,

Ireland's Dave Kearney is tackled by Wales Alun-Wyn Jones (left) during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Ireland's Paul O'Connell (bottom, C) reacts during their Six Nations rugby union match against Wales at Aviva stadium

Ireland's Paul O'Connell (bottom, C) reacts during their Six Nations rugby union match against Wales at Aviva stadium

Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy is challenged by Wales's Gethin Jenkins during the RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium

Ireland's Conor Murray (C) clears the ball against Wales in their Six Nations rugby union match at Aviva stadium

Peter O'Mahony was man-of-the-match but how did the other players who graced the Aviva Stadium fare today.

IRELAND

ROB KEARNEY: Got the better of counterpart Leigh Halfpenny in the crucial aerial battle. 8/10

ANDREW TRIMBLE: Another rock-solid showing from the dependable Ulsterman. 7.

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL: Not a vintage performance from the ex-skipper but more than enough. 7.

GORDON D'ARCY: Shut Jamie Roberts down entirely in midfield. 8.

DAVE KEARNEY: Kept Alex Cuthbert quiet, no mean feat. 7.

JOHNNY SEXTON: Not a foot out of place. 8.

CONOR MURRAY: Proved beyond doubt his superiority over Wales opposite number Mike Phillips. 9.

CIAN HEALY: Bullied Adam Jones at the scrum. 8.

RORY BEST: His most accurate performance at hooker in some time. 8.

MIKE ROSS: Heaped scrum misery on Gethin Jenkins. 8.

DEVIN TONER: A tower of line-out strength. 8.

PAUL O'CONNELL: Ran himself to a standstill, perfect in the tight. 8.

PETER O'MAHONY: Runaway man of the match for breakdown excellence. 9.

CHRIS HENRY: Ireland did not miss Sean O'Brien thanks to the Ulster scrapper. 8.

JAMIE HEASLIP: Tied Ireland's back-row dominance together. 8.

WALES

LEIGH HALFPENNY: Kicked Wales' solitary points, and was arguably their best player. 7.

ALEX CUTHBERT: A passenger for much of the game. 5.

SCOTT WILLIAMS: His afternoon lasted just 17 minutes before he suffered a shoulder injury tackling O'Driscoll. 5.

JAMIE ROBERTS: Ran strongly at times, but there was no way through Ireland's defence. 6.

GEORGE NORTH: Switched to centre after Williams went off, but had few attacking chances. 6.

RHYS PRIESTLAND: Tried his hardest to get Wales moving, but he had no platform to play off. 6.

MIKE PHILLIPS: Could make little headway behind an outmuscled Wales pack. 6.

GETHIN JENKINS: Suffered an early knock, but kept plugging away on an afternoon to forget for Wales. 6.

RICHARD HIBBARD: Combative and aggressive, as usual. 6.

ADAM JONES: Had his hands full with Irish loosehead Cian Healy. 6.

ANDREW COOMBS: Part of a Wales lineout that horribly misfired. 5.

ALUN-WYN JONES: Could not get the Wales set-piece going. 5.

DAN LYDIATE: Tackled hard and strong, but on the back foot throughout. 6.

SAM WARBURTON: The Wales captain was outplayed at the breakdown by a Peter O'Mahony-inspired Irish back-row. 5.

TAULUPE FALETAU: Rarely seen in the heat of battle. 5.

Online Editors