Ireland shook off a few more of their World Cup cobwebs at Croke Park as they condemned Scotland to their third straight defeat of the Six Nations.

Following their second half fightback in Paris two weeks ago the Irish showed some more of the form that made them Championship favourites in 2007 and will buoy confidence ahead of the visit of unbeaten Wales to Croke Park in a fortnight.

The game burst into life after a scoreless 20 minutes that the Scots had enjoyed the better of without putting a wealth of good possession to any use.

Ireland’s first foray into the Scottish 22 brought a scrum under the Scottish posts from which No.8 Jamie Heaslip flicked a pass back inside to David Wallace who barged through a gaping hole to score.

Chris Paterson pegged Ireland back with a penalty on 25 minutes, his 24th consecutive succesful shot at goal in a Scotland shirt, but his back line was shredded moments later by a sweeping Irish move.

Full back Geordan Murphy fielded a testing up and under before Ronan O’Gara fed Brian O’Driscoll who raced through the defence and sent a sublime pass out to left wing Rob Kearney, allowing the Leinster youngster to skate home.

Paterson slotted his second penalty on the half hour as Scotland continued to dominate territory and possession but they were repeatedly repelled by superb scrambling Irish defence, and were also undone by poor discipline from lock Nathan Hines whose swinging arm after a penalty had been awarded to his side saw a promising position wasted just before half time.

Hines was made to feel even worse at the start of the second period when Irish loosehead Marcus Horan was on the end of a Ronan O’Gara crossfield kick to trundle over the line and put healthy daylight between the sides.

The dream start to the half got better for Eddie O’Sullivan’s men on 50 minutes as O’Gara’s first penalty took them past the 20 point mark but Scotland were back in the game three minutes later when Simon Webster found a gap in the Irish rearguard after a neat offload by Andy Henderson.

The try prompted a change from O’Sullivan who sent on returning lock Paul O’Connell to a huge roar from the Croke Park crowd. They were on their feet again on the hour when Ulster wing Tommy Bowe was fed by his club colleague Andrew Trimble to mark his return to the side with a try. O’Gara, whose deft one handed flip allowed Trimble to supply Bowe, added the conversion to make it a 16-point gap.

The game was reduced to uncontested scrums for the last five minutes as Scotland’s misery was compounded by the loss of Jim Hamilton and Euan Murray to injury.

Bowe had his second at the death after good work by Shane Horgan and Ireland’s rehabilitation had taken a healthy few steps forward.