Ireland kept their quest for successive Six Nations grand slam titles on track by brushing aside spirited Wales with a dominant 31-7 victory in Dublin.

Andy Farrell’s men backed up crushing wins over France and Italy with a third consecutive bonus-point triumph to keep themselves in pole position for further championship glory.

First-half tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe paved the way for the reigning champions to equal England’s tournament record of 11 wins in a row.

Wales avoided embarrassment at the Aviva Stadium and briefly threatened an improbable fightback thanks to a second-half spell which brought a penalty try and a yellow card for Tadhg Beirne.

But a first Test try for stand-in Ireland full-back Ciaran Frawley broke their resolve before Beirne atoned for his earlier error by securing the bonus point at the death on an afternoon when flawless fly-half Jack Crowley kicked 11 points.

And that’s now 18 in a row at home for Ireland – they really have turned the Aviva Stadiu minto something of a fortress. There was no real panic today, even in the periods where Wales had real momentum.

Frawley then dashes up into the stands for a photo with his family after a first Six Nations start. A lovely moment for the versatile young back, who had a very solid outing. We’ll see if Hugo Keenan is fit for Ireland’s trip to Twickenham in a fortnight but Frawley has shown that he is a viable option in his Leinster teammate’s absence.

“It was a bit clunky in the first half,” the Ireland full-back says. “To bounce back through all the adversity thrown at us and get a bonus point was good.

“I was delighted to get over in the second half. The space just opened up for me, it was lovely. We had Bundee’s try disallowed so it was great to get over because it gave us a bit of momentum. The players here are unbelievable, they know how to win. We’ve been through all the scenarios and we just stick to our systems. Well done to the boys.”

Warren Gatland will be pleased with the fight his young side again showed after a first half where they didn’t get into the game. You do wonder, though, if Wales could have built into the game with a couple of kickable penalties that they turned down – at 17-7, six more points would have had them right in it.

Ireland march on towards another grand slam, but boy did they have work for that win against a gutsy travelling Welsh side. There was plenty of huff and puff from the hosts, but their accuracy was lacking at times, and a more mature, clinical visiting squad might have made more of the opportunities that Ireland presented.

But ultimately it is five more points to the competition tally for Andy Farrell’s defending champions – and a 24-point final margin is far from insignificant, even if they weren’t at their best.

Ireland have that bonus point!

Tadhg Beirne has again been brilliant, despite that sin binning earlier, and he’s still got plenty of puff, hitting the line impressively even with the clock dead. Dafydd Jenkins pushes out slightly too wide and a blowing Dillon Lewis inside him can’t quite cover across – through the hole Beirne goes to send us to a close. Jack Crowley converts.

Into the red goes the clock as Mackenzie Martin lays a stiff shot on an Irish forward. But still the hosts play, working hands at the line to try and stress the Welsh defence. Jack Crowley nearly slithers free, and Tadhg Beirne arrives with intent…