Ireland beat France 19-9 in Dublin on Saturday to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive.

The hosts led 7-6 at the break, thanks to a 30th-minute try to Conor Murray, who dotted down after a brilliant break by Johnny Sexton and a couple of good scrums. Camille Lopez had earlier kicked two penalties for the French.

Sexton slotted two penalties and a drop goal in the second half to extend the hosts' lead to 16-6.

While Lopez kicked a 73rd-minute penalty to reduce the gap to seven, Paddy Jackson's penalty soon after put the result beyond doubt.

Ireland's win sees them jump Scotland to the top of the log, with third-placed England set to play Italy on Sunday.

Ireland – Try: Conor Murray. Conversion: Johnny Sexton. Penalties: Sexton (2), Paddy Jackson. Drop goal: Sexton.
France – Penalties: Camille Lopez (2).

Ireland – 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Jack McGrath.
Subs: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Cian Healy, 18 John Ryan, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O'Mahony, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Andrew Trimble.

France – 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Rémi Lamerat, 12 Gaël Fickou, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kévin Gourdon, 6 Bernard le Roux, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Cyril Baille.
Subs: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Xavier Chiocci, 19 Julian Le Devedec, 20 Charles Ollivon, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Henry Chavancy, 23 Djibril Camara.

Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images