DAN CAN FEEL A WEIGHT LIFTED

Lions' late show gives Sheehan blueprint to cure Irish heartache

- From Adam Hathaway in Sydney

DAN SHEEHAN saw at first hand how to get over the line in close matches last weekend - and believes that has shown Ireland how to seal the deal in big games.

The hooker had been replaced and was sitting on the bench as Saturday’s second Lions Test in Melbourne reached its climax with the tourists roaring home, 29-26 at the MCG, thanks to Hugo Keenan’s late winner.

Ireland have lost out narrowly in massive matches in the past, notably the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal 28-24 defeat by the All Blacks and the 23-22 loss to England in the 2024 Six Nations, when they were hot favourites.

Sheehan’s province Leinster, who supplied nine of the Lions 23 in Melbourne, lost three successive Champions Cup finals by a total of 13 points before last season’s 37-34 defeat by Northampton at the semifinal stage.