Connacht dig deep to beat league leaders

Published on Monday 29 December 2008 09:16

CONNACHT blew the Magners League title race wide open as they beat provincial rivals Munster for the first time since 1986.

Four penalty goals from Ian Keatley saw the league's bottom side score a shock 12-6 victory at the Sportsground, following up on last month's memorable defeat of defending champions Leinster.

The European champions still hold a three-point lead at the top of the table, but coach Tony McGahan will be disappointed with Munster's display.

Munster's chances of recording their seventh win in eight league games were dented by two sin-binnings – Niall Ronan and Doug Howlett saw yellow in each half – and Connacht, who moved ahead in the final quarter, had the strength to hold on.

Connacht's intensity was set by an early tackle by Robbie Morris on Mick O'Driscoll but the visitors looked dangerous as they probed with box kicks and gained turnover ball.

Munster managed to convert some of that early pressure into points when Mike McCarthy was penalised for a ruck offence, allowing Paul Warwick to open the scoring against his former province.

Keatley drew Connacht level after 21 minutes, firing a penalty over from the right after a ruck offence from Alan Quinlan.

He then made no mistake with a close-range penalty after Ronan was sin-binned for deliberately slowing up quick ruck ball.

Connacht lost their grip on their 6-3 half-time lead when Warwick sent over a monster penalty kick, six minutes into the second half.

Howlett got his marching orders for tackling Duffy in the air and when Munster debutant Nick Williams went offside at a ruck after 62 minutes, Keatley stroked home the penalty for a 9-6 lead.

Connacht survived another bout of pressure and forced a crucial penalty near the Munster 22 when James Coughlan was seen holding on to the ball on the deck. Keatley slotted the kick.