Connacht defeat Munster

Connacht 40, Munster 33 (full-time)

Connacht outscored Munster by seven tries to five in an eventful 100 minute friendly played at the Galway Sportsground this evening.

The game consisted of three periods, the first of 30 minutes, the second of 40 minutes and a final period of 30 minutes.

Both sides used the occasion to give a run to their full squads with Connacht fielding 33 players in the course of the encounter.

Connacht led 8-7 at the end of the first period of 30 minutes, getting off the mark after 16 minutes thanks to a try from James Norton after good work by Shane Moore and Martin McPhail.

Munster hit back six minutes later with a close range try from scrum-half Dominic Malone, with Jeremy Staunton adding the points to put them ahead.

Moore pushed Connacht back in front three minutes from the end of the first period with a penalty.

Wayne Munn extended Connacht's lead four minutes after the restart with a try before Kevin O'Riordan responded for Munster and Jeremy Staunton adding the points to edge them 13-14 ahead.

However, Connacht dominated after that and at the end of the second period they led by 30-14.

Ted Robinson raced through for a try after 54 minutes and Darren Yapp and Eric Elwood also crossed for quality tries.

Munster hit back in the third period and tries by John Lacey and Clem Casey reduced the margin to 30-26 before Eoin Reddan crossed for Connacht.

Mark McHugh became the seventh Connacht player to cross for a try when he scored six minutes from the end.

Liam Brown got Munster's fifth try in the dying moments but it was Connacht who prevailed to the end.