Connacht see off Munster for first win of the season

URC REPORT: Connacht crowned their first appearance on the Sportsground’s new 4G pitch with a dogged 20-11 United Rugby Championship derby win over Munster.

A Ben Healy penalty split the teams at half-time, Munster leading 8-5 after Patrick Campbell’s first URC try had cancelled out an earlier effort from Mack Hansen.

The 7 512-strong crowd watched Connacht close the gap to 11-10, a second Healy penalty followed by an unconverted Finlay Bealham maul try.

Conor Fitzgerald’s 61st-minute penalty saw the Westerners retake the lead, and their first victory of the season was sealed when replacement Paul Boyle barged over in the 78th minute.

Connacht won two early scrum penalties on the all-weather surface before Jack Carty’s long skip pass sent Hansen scampering over in the seventh minute.

The near post denied a slightly rusty Carty from the conversion and a subsequent penalty. His opposite number Healy kicked the ball dead as Munster struggled to get going.

However, at the start of the second quarter, Munster’s line-out maul put the tryline within reach. Campbell’s diving finish in the left corner came from a looping Healy pass.

It remained 5-5 with defences on top, Oisin Dowling stealing two Munster line-outs and Tadhg Beirne picking off two turnover penalties.

Dave Kilcoyne marched the visitors forward from a deflected Peter O’Mahony kick. Connacht infringed on the edge of their 22 and Healy gave his side a three-point interval lead.

Munster were rewarded for their pragmatic approach with a second Healy penalty early on the restart.

Although replacement Jeremy Loughman steadied Munster’s scrum, they were still second best in the line-out. A brilliant Fitzgerald kick set up the bulldozing drive that delivered Bealham’s TMO-confirmed try.

Carty’s frustration grew as he missed a second conversion. He passed the kicking duties to fullback Fitzgerald, who punished Beirne for going off his feet on the hour mark.

Quick hands released Hansen to set up a promising spell for Connacht. Munster repelled them but could not avoid a third defeat in four games.

There was no stopping Boyle from a close-in ruck after the maul was again the ideal launchpad. Fitzgerald converted with aplomb.

Player of the Match

Tadhg Beirne led the way for Munster with a typically industrious performance, with Jack O’Donoghue also standing out.

However, it was Connacht’s night and tighthead Finlay Bealham, key to their impressive set-piece performance and also winning a turnover penalty, who was a deserved recipient of the individual honour. Fitzgerald also grew in influence as the game went on.

Play of the match

The best attacking phases of this interprovincial clash came inside the opening minutes as Connacht warmed to their all-weather surface.

Possession from a maul saw David Hawkshaw and Shamus Hurley-Langton make two incisive carries, before Jack Carty used a penalty advantage to fire a pinpoint pass out wide for Hansen to raid over from his left-wing berth.

The scorers:

For Connacht:
Tries: Hansen, Bealham, Boyle
Con: Fitzgerald
Pen: Fitzgerald

For Munster:
Try: Campbell
Pens: Healy 2

Teams:

Connacht: 15 Conor Fitzgerald, 14 John Porch, 13 Byron Ralston, 12 David Hawkshaw, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 5 Oisín Dowling, 4 Gavin Thornbury, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacement: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Josh Murphy, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Tom Daly, 23 Paul Boyle.

Munster: 15 Joey Carbery, 14 Conor Phillips, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Dan Goggin, 11 Patrick Campbell, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Peter O’Mahony (captain), 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Keynan Knox, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Jack O’Sullivan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Fionn Gibbons.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland) & Dan Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)