| Connacht (3) 10 |
| Try: Aki Con: Fitzgerald Pen: Carty |
| Munster (8) 8 |
| Try: Conway Pen: Healy |
Connacht beat Munster in an inter-provincial brag contest at the Sportsground.
Bundee Aki’s converted try in the 58th minute proved to be decisive for a scrappy contest in that Chris Busby was given four yellow cards.
Munster was leading at the break, thanks to an Andrew Conway attempt. However, they were still on the back foot for the majority of the second half.
Due to a greater points difference, both sides are at 20 points each. Munster is now ahead in URC standings.
Connacht’s captain Jack Carty was injured in the first period. Conor Fitzgerald came on as the substitute and converted the goal that gave his side the lead with less than a quarter remaining.
Connacht suffered a two-point late defeat at Thomond Park in October. They were determined to win the victory and they did so with relative comfort, as Munster struggled for their exit.
After 40 minutes of play, the visitors took the lead. Conway was able to touch down just before the final whistle after Mack Hansen’s kick was charged down by Healy.
Hansen made two key tackles in corner to stop Conway from extending Munster’s lead. Connacht was applying pressure with a man advantage after Oisin dowling was sent to bin.
But, the crowd cheered them on, and they won a penalty right before the whistle. This relieved the pressure, and tempers flared as the team entered the changing rooms. Shane Delahunt and Healy were both yellowed for their roles in the chaos.
Connacht’s chances were limited in the opening period, but they had many more chances after the break. Fitzgerald sent a kickable penalty wide, before Kieran Martion took Craig Casey’s pass and ran nearly the length of the pitch. Mike Haley was able to stop him.
Chris Farrell was sent into the bin by Tom Farrell to take a blow to the head.
Connacht was quick to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Aki joined the rolling maul and crashed over for the crucial score.
Munster is now in their second league defeat of the year, having played fewer matches than the other teams.
Connacht: O’Halloran. Porch. Arnold. Aki. Hansen. Carty. Marmion. Burke. Heffernan. Marmion. Prendergast. Butler.
Replacements: Delahunt, Tuimauga, Robertson-McCoy, Masterson, Papali’i, Devine, Fitzgerald, Masterson.
Munster: Haley; Conway, Farrell, de Allende, S Daly; Healy, Casey; Kilcoyne, N Scannell, Archer, Kleyn, F Wycherley; O’Donoghue (capt), Kendellen, Coombes.
Replacements: Barron and Loughman, Knox and Ahern, J Daly; Cronin, Crowley, R Scannell.