Connacht fans hope the only way is up

It’s fair to say that the selection of Kieran Keane over a year ago as successor to Pat Lam was greeted with a level of shock in the west that has only now been matched by his dismissal two days after leading Connacht to a record win over Leinster.

That 47-10 win was the biggest Connacht have achieved against an Irish province in the professional era and the home support in the 8,125 on Saturday left the Sportsground with a pep in their step for the first time since that glory day in Edinburgh two years ago this month.

But that 20-10 win over Leinster in the PRO12 final, Connacht’s first trophy in their 131-history, is looking more and more like a distant memory, a one-hit wonder to be treasured.