Connacht boost Cup hopes

CONNACHT’S growing determination to keep their Heineken Cup hopes alive was epitomised by a huge hunger against title hopefuls Leinster in the Galway Sportsground last evening.

In a top-versus-bottom fixture, Leinster may have turned up expecting to seal their home semi-final, but instead they found themselves under the cosh from a Connacht side determined to avenge their earlier defeat at the RDS. And, forced to play this match at Leinster’s behest despite appeals for a postponement till their European semi-final was concluded, Connacht were in mood to succumb a second time.

Showing eight changes from the side that lost to Munster, coach Michael Bradley gave many of the players who faced Leinster in Dublin a second chance, and they were not found wanting.

An unusually quiet Brian O’Driscoll and company were given a thorough roasting. The breakdown proved critical, and having conceded 22 turnovers against Munster, Connacht paid a similar compliment to last night’s opponents. Gavin Duffy led Connacht’s attack from fullback, aided and abetted by Troy Nathan and Fionn Car, while John Muldoon, George Naoupu, and Michael Swift exemplified the tenacity needed to quell the league pace-setters. In the end Connacht grabbed three superb tries, while Leinster’s single effort was a penalty try in the 69th minute when the result was no longer in doubt.

Connacht took a deserved 7-0 lead into the second half courtesy of the only try of the opening 40 minutes in which both sides carved out several scoring opportunities. But for a couple of stray passes the home side should have crossed early on, but then it was the turn of Leinster to pile on the pressure.

A series of penalties which Leinster opted to scrum came to nothing as a result of Connacht’s determination in the tackle – securing at least four turnovers in their own 22 to survive the visitors’ onslaught. However they made life difficult for themselves with an erratic line-out which hampered quick ball, but, epitomised by captain John Muldoon, Connacht’ threw themselves into the breakdown, scavenged for possession, and were rewarded.

Two quick-fire turnovers gave Connacht the initiative, and scrumhalf Conor O’Loughlin’s sniping run from a ruck gave his side the momentum just 10 metres out.

Sean Cronin added a couple of extra yards before left wing Fionn Carr off-loaded the supporting right winger Brian Touhy who crossed for a 34th-minute try.

Out half Miah Nikora added the extras, and with their tails up, Connacht could have added to their scores when Leinster were penalised for collapsing the scrum, but Nikora’s effort from the 10m line was short.

Leinster soon closed the gap with a 42nd minute penalty which Berne struck after a Michael Swift’s high tackle on Girvan Demspey, but Connacht’s hunger was being rewarded as they started to find gaps through the Leinster cover.

A super drop goal from Miah Nikora from 35 metres out restored Connacht’s lead to seven points before they broke through for a second try. From Gavin Duffy’s control under the high ball, Fionn Carr once again set up field position, the influential Nikora was prominent with a long pass that found Michael Swift on the left wing. Connacht’s most capped player did the rest, breaking through Strauss’ tackle on the 22 and Dempsey could do nothing to stop the lock from diving in.

Nikora’s touchline conversion gave Connacht a 17-3 lead. Leinster opted for a three-pointer in the 57th minute, but thereafter it was all Connacht. Duffy, superb under the high ball, initiated the counterattack from deep in his own half with Carr in support and the result saw Troy Nathan break from the back of a ruck to dot down under the posts.

With replacement out half Ian Keatley’s conversion, it was really game over for Leinster, and although referee Peter Fitzgibbon awarded the visitors a penalty try, Keatley put the game beyond any doubt with a 72nd-minute penalty.

Connacht, now level with Ulster, maintain their long-held ambition for a Heineken Cup place.

Connacht scorers: Tries: Tuohy, Swift, Nathan. Cons: Nikora 2, Keatley. Pens: Keatley. Drop Goals: Nikora.

CONNACHT: G Duffy, B Tuohy T Nathan, A Wynne, F Carr, M Nikora, C O’Loughlin, R Loughney, S Cronin, R MOrris, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, M McComish, G Naoupu.

Replacements: K Campbell for O’Loughlin 38, J O’Connor for McComish 60m, A Flavin for Cronin and I Keatley for Nikora 63, B Upton for Swift 69, B Wilkinson for Loughney 70m.

Leinster scorers: Tries: Penalty. Cons: Berne. Pens: Berne 2.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey, A Conway, B O’Driscoll, E O’Malley, I Nacewa, S Berne, E Reddan, S Wright, R Strauss, CJ van der Linde, N Hines, M O’Kelly K McLaughlin, S Jennings, S Keogh.

Replacements: E O’Malley for Tonetti, J Heaslip for McLoughlin, C Healy for van der Linde HT, L Cullen for O’Kelly and J Fogarty for Strauss 53.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).