Ireland back-row Jack Conan said discipline issues and shaky defence cost the home side after their Grand Slam ambitions went up in smoke against a ravenous France at the Aviva Stadium.
Fabien Galthie's side ran in four second half tries, scoring 34 points without reply between the 47th and 75th minute as they secured an emphatic 42-27 point win in Dublin, the hosts going over for two converted tries in the dying minutes with the outcome already settled.
As in Cardiff, Ireland spent a total of 20 minutes with 14 men, this time due to two yellow cards, with Joe McCarthy and Calvin Nash sent to the bin in either half, during which periods Man of the Match Louise Bielle-Biarrey registered both of his tries.
The result means that Ireland's push for a historic three-in-a-row of outright Six Nations titles is on life support, dependent on Scotland preventing a French victory in Paris next week and, even were that to occur, England would need to fail to take maximum points from their remaining games against Italy and Wales to give the defending champions a chance.
"I think discipline cost us hugely. Two yellow cards. You can't give France the advantage, they've such threats across the park.
"We just shot ourselves in the foot. Credit to them, they're very clinical and very accurate and took their scores well.
"We were a little bit soft in D (defence) at times. Missing first up tackles and soaking a little bit and letting them get a rumble on us."
Ireland had started with intent, dominating possession and territory in the opening 20 minutes but their pressure failed to yield a score with Caelan Doris being held up over the line by a combination of Paul Boudehent and Gregory Alldritt.
In the end, it was France who found the first try through wing Bielle-Biarrey, receiving a pass from Antoine Dupont who would be withdrawn after suffering a knee injury late in the first half, with Galthie afterwards branding the incident "reprehensible" in an interview on French TV.
"We did unbelievably well in the first 20 minutes," said Conan. "The pressure we were putting on them, it was disappointing not to come away with points there. They come away and score five points.
"We were in a good position at half-time. Those 20 minutes after half-time were the ones that killed us.
"They were fairly resolute in their defence at the end, I know we got over (in the last couple of minutes). But they stuck in it unbelievably well when it would have been easy just to concede.
"To play against a really good team like France, you need to be at your best and we just weren't at our best."
As it happened: Ireland 27-42 France
It meant there was no victorious send off on home soil for the retiring trio of Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy, though the latter did barrel over for a late consolation try before Conan grounded himself with the clock in the red.
"More than anything else, we're just gutted for the lads, the three lads who've given their all for the jersey over the decade.
"Three of the best men to ever do it. Three good blokes. Not just great rugby players but great men.
"That's the bit that really stings, not giving them the send off they deserved.
"Fortunately enough, we get to go again next week. Hopefully, we can finish on a high. But we just weren't good enough today for them and for ourselves."
