Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon said her side cannot "get too ahead of" themselves before facing Italy in Rome on Sunday.
Scott Bemand's team lost their opener of the Women's Six Nations for the fourth season in a row against France in Belfast on Saturday but offered a strong showing in the 27-15 defeat.
While the side ranked fourth in the world had scored 56 and 53 points on their two most recent visits to Ireland, the hosts were just 17-15 behind in the final 10 minutes before France put a late gloss on the scoreline.