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Edinburgh - Ireland ran in three tries to set up a 21-18 victory over Scotland in their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The result left the Scots still without a point from three games. Ireland joined Wales and France on four points, two behind leaders England.
Ireland led 21-9 midway through the second half when they looked capable of stretching their advantage.
But a lack of discipline enabled Scotland to close the gap to three points, largely through the accuracy of Chris Paterson, who kicked 15 of their points.
While they finished strongly, it had all started to go wrong for Scotland from the sixth minute when they conceded an early try for the fourth match in succession.
Jamie Heaslip was the scorer and his off-load 22 minutes later presented Eoin Reddan with Ireland's second.
Ronan O'Gara converted them both but Scotland were able to stay in touch before the interval as Ireland's indiscipline gave Chris Paterson the chance to kick three penalties.
Ireland's 14-9 lead did not reflect the extra imagination and purpose they had displayed but the scoreline was given a more realistic look when they exposed Scotland's defence again while prop Allan Jacobsen was in the sin bin.
O'Gara broke through a tackle by Paterson to score the visitors' third try in the 53rd minute and O'Gara converted for the 12-point cushion.
Paterson reduced the deficit by kicking two penalties in quick succession and Ireland's lead was down to three points when Dan Parks added a drop goal.
It left Ireland facing a difficult final 10 minutes, but they held out for a victory that should have been by a far more convincing margin.
