Tom McCartney relishing Connacht’s festive schedule

Connacht hooker Tom McCartney says he is ready to leave his injury woes behind and play his part in a busy Christmas period for the westerners.

McCartney had been sidelined for a month with a hip injury, but he made his comeback off the bench last weekend in Brive to help his side to a key Challenge Cup victory. And the New Zealand native says he is desperate to lead the Connacht pack through a busy schedule and launch it with a fourth straight European win at the Sportsground on Saturday.

“It’s really good to be back playing. You never want to be on the sidelines. It was a frustrating few weeks for me after the Cheetahs game picking up a little niggle. But it’s good to be back out on the park,” said McCartney.

“It’s coming into a great time in the season. I don’t want to talk too much about the interpros because we have got a big game to focus on at the weekend first of all.

“The knockout games are the games you really want to be playing in. It is always our goal. We are not in the finals yet, we still have got to get a win this weekend and that will hopefully go a long way to getting that spot. But it’s definitely a goal for us.”

The 32-year-old Kiwi has played 14 games for the province in Europe, scoring one try, but he knows the Christmas period will be all about local rivalries.

“I have been here three or four years now and the interpros are always a great occasion. It’s a game you always want to be starting and you always want to go out and win.

“There is nothing better than beating the other Irish teams,” said McCartney.

Meanwhile, Connacht have confirmed prop Conor Carey has extended his contract with the province. Since arriving in the Sportsground in 2016, the 26-year-old has made 25 appearances. The Belfast man has previously been capped by Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 levels, making four appearances in the 2011 Junior World Championship.