Debuts the bonus for on-song Leinster 

Leinster were too powerful for Connacht despite fielding five academy players in the squad and awarding two debuts.

Hugh Cooney of Leinster sings in the dressingroom after being presented with his first cap after the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Leinster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

James Ryan said the added bonus for Leinster in coming away from Galway with all five points is that the win was achieved with five academy players in the squad and two more debutants.

The understrength Leinster squad was still far too powerful for a disappointing Connacht side who fell to their first inter-pro loss of the season and for the first time ended up without a match point.

But with Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ryan and a rampaging RG Snyman providing experienced leadership, Leinster had more than enough power to make it five bonus points win in a row in this season’s URC.

Academy winger Andrew Osborne, whose brother Jamie also scored, crowned his third appearance with his first try, while promising hooker Gus McCarthy produced another impressive display in his fifth game.

Scrum-half Fintan Gunne came off the bench for his sixth game, while hooker Stephen Smith and centre Hugh Cooney came to make their debuts.

“We’re happy out,” said Ryan who skippered the side. “It's always a very tough place to come down and play here and it was no different tonight. We had to work very hard.

“And couple of new debuts as well with Steve Smith and Hugh coming on. So it's great to make that a good day for them.

“The wind affected some of our decision-making in the first-half but we decided to be a bit braver and more aggressive.

“And look, we're blessed that we have such a good squad. We've real depth, across most most positions,” added Ryan.

The win has come at a price for Leinster and Ireland with Ciaran Frawley limping off after just 16 minutes of a contest.

Leinster, with 72% territory, led 21-5 at the break having played with the strong wind behind them in the opening half.

Early tries from Jamie Osborne and Liam Turner put them in the driving seat and while Connacht hit back with a try from Sean O’Brien, the superb Snyman struck before the interval from close range for their third try.

Leinster wrapped up the bonus point six minutes after the restart after building the phases into the wind and Max Deegan did well to pick a low pass from Ross Byrne to score in the left corner.

Connacht got a lifeline when Cathal Forde scored shortly after coming on when he stepped inside Jamie Osborne to score under the posts, with Ioane’s conversion cutting the gap to 26-12.

But Osborne’s younger brother Andrew got immediate revenge on the restart when he fielded Byrne’s kick ahead of Forde to race in and score Leinster’s fifth try, which Byrne did well to convert to make it 33-12.

Keenan executed another brilliant tackle when he came across to deny Connacht replacement hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin as the league leaders battled to the end as if defending a single score lead.

Scorers for Connacht: Tries: S O’Brien, C Forde. Con: J Ioane.

Leinster: Tries: J Osborne, L Turner, RG Snyman, M Deegan, A Osborne. Cons: R Byrne (3), C Frawley.

CONNACHT: P O’Conor; S Bolton, D Hawkshaw (C Forde 62), B Aki, S Cordero (H Gavin 59); J Ioane, B Murphy (C Blade 56); D Buckley (P Dooley 52), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 56), F Bealham (J Aungier 52); J Joyce (N Murray 52), D Murray; C Prendergast (c), S O’Brien (S Jansen 56), P Boyle.

LEINSTER: H Keenan; L Turner (H Cooney 74), G Ringrose, J Osborne, A Osborne; C Frawley (R Byrne 17), J Gibson-Park (F Gunne 71); J Boyle (A Porter 44), G McCarthy (S Smith 74), R Slimani (T Clarkson 44); RG Snyman (B Deeny 70), J Ryan (c); M Deegan, W Connors (S Penny 59), J Culhane.

Referee: E Cross (IRFU).