Connacht end on a high

Connacht24 Ospreys20

CONNACHT ENDED a disappointing season on a high note with a well-deserved victory over the Ospreys at the Galway Sportsground last night.

Keith Matthews was the star of the show, bagging two of Connacht’s three tries as the home side’s desire proved greater than their Welsh counterparts.

After a scrappy opening period Connacht captain Andrew Farley intercepted a loose pass on his own 10 metre line and found a supporting Ofisa Treviranus who raced in for a try from 35 metres. Andy Dunne added the conversion to establish a 7 -0 lead.

Dunne added a 30 metre penalty and Connacht were deserving of their 10-0 interval lead.

Five minutes after the restart Matthews extended the lead with Connacht’s second try. Dunne was the instigator with a chip out of defence and Gavin Duffy picked up the loose ball to sprint downfield with Matthews finishing off under the posts.

Ospreys were handed a lifeline when Conor McPhillips was redcarded for an alleged punch, and home prop Brett Wilkinson soon followed with a yellow card.

With Connacht down to 13 men, the Ospreys took control. Shaun Connor kick-started the comeback with a 48th minute penalty before Kristian Phillips collected a superb cross field kick and raced in for the Osprey’s opening try.

But Dunne set up Matthews for Connacht’s third try to seal the victory despite Martin Roberts late try for the visitors.

SCORERS: Connacht: K Matthews two tries, O Treviranus one try, A Dunne (3 cons, one penalty). Ospreys: K Phillips, M Roberts (one try each), S Connor ( penalty), D Biggar (two cons, one penalty. Red card: C McPhilips. Yellow card. B Wilkinson.

CONNACHT: G Duffy, O Treviranus, M Deane, K Matthews, D Riordan, A Dunne, C McPhillips, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris, A Browne, A Farley (cpt), J Muldoon, J O’Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: B McGovern for Morris (60m), C O’Loughlin for Rigney (60m), R Loughney for Wilkinson (63m) M McCarthy for Browne (67m) D Yapp for Deane (67m). J Fogarty for Flavin (67m).

OSPREYS: G Owen, L Bevan, M Taylor, J Spratt, K Phillips, S Connor, R Webb, P James, R Hibbard, C Griffiths, A Lloyd, L Bateman, M Holah, S Tandy, T Smith. Replacements: M Powell for Lloyd (40m), A Thomas for Bevan (59m, M Roberts for Webb (45m),, E Shervington for Hibbard (60M), D Biggar for Connor (55m), R Pitman for Tandy (60m), R Bevington for Griffiths (71m).

Referee: N Patterson (Scotland).