GAME'S A BOGEY

Irish curse strikes again as Scots come up short on Dublin D-Day and miss their big shot at glory

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IT WAS as close as they've come this century.

But when it comes to knocking off their old nemesis Ireland, Scotland remain as far away as ever.

Gregor Townsend and his players were hoping to party like it was 1999 in Dublin as they went after a first Championship success since winning the old Five Nations.

Instead it was the hosts who kicked off this week's St Paddy's Day celebrations with a win that put them in the hunt for a third title in four years.

This was the first time Scotland had made it to the final round with even a sniff of the crown since their last triumph 27 years ago.

But the odds were always against them to get it over the line in Dublin.

To succeed, they had to smash an eight-year hoodoo against Andy Farrell's relentless green machine and hope for a French slip against England in Paris.

But they couldn't hold up their end of the bargain.

A quick start was Scotland's desire — but reality had other ideas.

Irish scrum pressure gained the home side early territory and with just three minutes on the clock, Jamie Osbourne crashed through under the posts.

Scotland's response was swift and daring. They inched their way forward through 19 phases but once the fast hands of Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn got involved, Darcy Graham was free to surge over in the corner.

Back in, Scotland just needed to build. Instead they crumbled.

The line-out defence was left in tatters again moments later as Dan Sheehan slipped through.

And the Scots were caught narrow as Rob Baloucoune shimmied past Graham before diving for the line.

Twelve down at the break, the visitors knew they had 40 minutes to salvage their Six Nations title dream.