Keenan hat-trick leads Ireland to 42-12 win over Argentina

Hugo Keenan scored a hat-trick as Ireland defeated Argentina 42-12 at the Aviva Stadium in the Nations Championship on Friday. The hosts finished with six tries in their opening match of the November international window, while Mateo Carreras scored twice for Argentina, according to Brendan Fanning's match report for The Guardian.

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Argentina had threatened early through Carreras, who collected a crosskick from Tomás Albornoz in the 11th minute, with Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey unable to stop him in the air. Carreras also gathered a wayward crosskick from Sam Prendergast a few minutes later, briefly raising the prospect of another score. Ireland nevertheless found enough attacking openings to take control before the interval.

Keenan's first try came after an exchange of passes, and Dan Sheehan also crossed following a lineout inside Argentina's 22. Sheehan's score came between Keenan's first two tries. With Prendergast converting all three first-half tries, Ireland built a 21-5 advantage, leaving Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi to address both the deficit and disruption to his forward pack at half-time.

Argentina's problems in the second quarter included the loss of captain Julián Montoya to a head injury. Centre Justo Piccardo was sent to the sin-bin, and replacement hooker Leonel Oviedo then went off for an assessment. That sequence raised the possibility of uncontested scrums before replacement loosehead prop Mayco Vivas was declared able to play at hooker.

Ireland extended their lead two minutes after the restart when Prendergast broke through and finished the move himself. Keenan completed his three-try contribution, and the home side had reached six tries before the hour mark. That gave Andy Farrell room to use his replacements with the outcome already firmly in Ireland's favour, rather than needing the bench to recover a difficult position.

Robert Baloucoune also contributed in broken play, while fellow Ireland wing Mack Hansen was closely marked, The Guardian reported. Ireland's scrum held up on a dry, mild evening, adding to a performance defined by their attacking returns either side of half-time. Carreras's two tries were not enough to keep Argentina close, with the visitors finishing 30 points behind after Ireland turned their early opportunities into a decisive lead.