Ireland started with great intent and their hard work around the pitch was rewarded with a penalty from Jonathan Sexton and Cian Healy's first international try.
Both scores came inside the ten-minute mark and at that point,Declan Kidney's men looked on course to gain revenge for last weekend's defeat in Bordeaux and the narrow loss here in the Six Nations.
But France upped their game considerably after that, with Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc dictating from half-back behind a very physical set of forwards.
A Parra penalty and a well-taken drop goal from Trinh-Duc whittled Ireland's lead down to 8-6 and the visitors moved ahead courtesy of a brilliantly crafted and finished try from full-back Cédric Heymans.
Parra converted it and also landed a late penalty give his side a double scores advantage at half-time. Ireland needed to respond quickly when the second half got underway. Instead, man-of-the-match Parra kept the French momentum going by kicking them into a 19-8 lead.
Worse followed for Ireland just four minutes later when a loose pass fromTomas O'Leary in his 22 was intercepted by Trinh-Duc and the replacement out-half sprinted in for a real sucker punch try.
Parra's conversion put 18 points between the sides and injuries to Healy andFelix Jones, on his first start, added to the home side's woes.
However, their general play did pick up in the final quarter and the introduction of Stephen Ferris, back from a long-term knee injury, was a welcome sight.
With France content with their lot, Ireland bossed the closing stages of the game. Ronan O'Gara was in the hot seat at out-half, having replaced Gordon D'Arcy and Sexton shifted to inside centre.
Andrew Trimble, O'Brien and returning captain Brian O'Driscoll kept running hard at the French defence and Ireland's endeavour was rewarded by a brace of late tries.
Luke Fitzgerald, who came on for the injured Jones, ran half the length of the pitch on a terrific counter attack and Sexton scored straight from the ensuing ruck.
O'Gara converted and also added the extras to O'Brien's injury-time effort, which saw the powerful Carlow man shrug off three French players on the way to the try-line.
The game finished 26-22 in France's favour and leaves next weekend's encounter with England as Ireland's last chance to gain a Test match win before the Rugby World Cup.
Related articles
