Emerging Ireland ended their three-match tour of South Africa with an entertaining 33-24 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
After victories over Pumas and Western Force, the youthful Emerging Ireland side trailed 17-12 at half-time in the third match of their South African tour.
Robert Hunt burrowed over inside seven minutes from a maul to give the Cheetahs the lead, but Ireland hit back when Evan O’Connell crossed and Sam Prendergast converted.
The Cheetahs responded midway through the half when Michael Annies spotted a gap in the Irish defence, and Ethan Wentzel converted.
Schalk Ferreira crashed over from a maul to extend the Cheetahs’ lead, but Ireland had the final say of the half when Andrew Osborne crossed in the corner.
Ireland put in a strong showing in the second half to respond. Replacement Alex Soroka touched down to bring Ireland level in the 54th minute and the boot of Prendergast nudged the tourists back in front.
In an end-to-end second half, Annies showed a great turn of speed to race clear for his second try of the game, but Ireland hit back once more when replacement Matthew Devine picked the ball up from 40 metres and raced clear to score unchallenged.
Ulster fly-half Murphy, who played a key role in Devine’s try, converted to put Ireland back ahead with 10 minutes to play.
Danny Sheahan crashed over with three minutes to play to put the game beyond the Cheetahs, and Murphy’s second conversion rounded out a strong tour for Simon Easterby’s side.
Cheetahs: Michael Annies; Prince Nkabinde, Munier Hartzenberg; Carel-Jan Coetzee; Asanda Kuene; Ethan Wentzel, Rewan Kruger; Schalk Ferreira, Corne Fourie, Robert Hunt; Carl Wegner, Victor Sekekete (capt); Gideon van der Merwe, Sisonke Vumazonke, Friedle Olivier.
Replacements: Marko JV Rensburg, Hencus van Wyk, Laurence Victor, Ulrich Stander, Neels Volschenk, Jandre Nel, George Lourens, Cohen Jasper.
Emerging Ireland: Ben O’Connor; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Cooney, Hugh Gavin, Zac Ward; Sam Prendergast, Cormac Foley; Alex Usanov, Stephen Smyth, Jack Aungier; Evan O’Connell, Darragh Murray; Harry Sheridan, Sean Edogbo, James Culhane (capt).
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, George Hadden, Scott Wilson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Alex Soroka, Matthew Devine, Jack Murphy, Charlie Tector.