Dan Sheehan happy with Ireland's response to difficult start in Six Nations
Michael Bolton
It may have ended in heartbreak for Ireland and Dan Sheehan, but as the Six Nations progressed, there were a lot of positive signals to take from this Ireland squad.
After a heavy defeat to France on the opening night in Paris, the response was an unconvincing victory over Italy, and it did not look good for Andy Farrell's side.
However, the tide was turned with an emphatic victory over England in Twickenham, which kick-started a run of form which saw Ireland win the Triple Crown.
As a Thomas France penalty denied Ireland the Six Nations, Sheehan came away from the tournament with a more optimistic view of the future.
"We had done everything we wanted to do. Going into that weekend, we wanted to get five points. I thought we did a good job and put out a good performance.
"We just had to let the rest of it take its course. That is rugby; it wasn't in our hands.
"We always knew in the group we always had that performance in us. I thought we did a good job at sticking together when outside noise was getting against us.
"People were beginning to start ask questions of us. We have a great group of players in Ireland and Leinster; when times are tough, [we] stick together. We make sure we focus on what is important, which is each other and what is in the building.
"It was nice to see those almost crisis meetings come off and make sure we turn a few wrongs pretty quickly."
Attention now turns back to Leinster for Sheehan, who were defeated by Glasgow at the weekend in the URC.
A spell in the first half where Leinster were reduced to 11 men saw Glasgow take full advantage, with 26 unanswered points.
Leo Cullen's side takes on Scarlets in the Aviva Stadium on Friday night, with Leinster currently fourth in the table. Sheehan is hoping for discipline to improve.
"If we do our defence properly and the way we want to see and feel it, discipline is not an issue.
"I think don't think we weren't fully at the races. We had to defend a lot of phases because Glasgow are very good at keeping the ball.
"Ultimately, when you are trying to defend that many phases, discipline will creep up. In fairness to Glasgow, they are very good at putting pressure on us and keeping the ball.
