On Monday, October 29th, 1979, DEREK JONESwrote this report in The Irish Times detailing Connacht's 20-16 win over Munster in Galway
THE CONNACHT players strolled off the field at the Sportsground, Galway, on Saturday with various expressions of almost disbelief, and to a standing ovation.
Just a year ago Munster were receiving the same hero worship, after beating the All Blacks in Limerick, but this time it was their turn when, as Interprovincial champions, they crashed to their first defeat in 20 years to Connacht; who set up another bit of history by scoring 20 points for the first time in a game.
Let there be no doubts about this triumph. It was accomplished by the finest Connacht side I have ever seen. From the very first minute, when Mick Quaid landed a penalty goal, followed up in the fourth minute by a drop goal from Colin Hitchcock, Munster got the message loud and dear that Connacht were in no humour to play Cinderella.
Robbie McGrath was a revelation at scrumhalf and completely outgunned Donal Canniffe, who had a most indifferent game, after taking some time to find Tony Ward with his passes. McGrath not only gave his outhalf a perfect service, but always had the Munster backrow guessing, by varying his play off two very nippy feet. Watch out Colin Patterson and John Robbie. There is nothing automatic yet about Ireland’s scrumhalf spot for this season!
With the halfback situation going very much Connacht’s way there was no surprise when they turned over with a 9-0 half-time lead, thanks to a second penalty goal after 23 minutes by Quaid, who had a brilliant game at fullback, not only defensively, but he also won much ground for his forwards with some raking kicks, and even found time to join in the merry-making as Connacht moved forward.
This was not brute force and hope for the best stuff from Connacht. They were exceptionally well-drilled, and played very attractive, open rugby.
I would like to have seen Owen Lysaght, their Blackrock winger, getting a little more of the ball. He looked so exciting when he did get it, that even at this early stage I would nominate him for a final trial. He has the confidence and ability to take on his man and beat him, which is rare among Irish wingers.
Ward stood as the only obvious saviour for Munster as he turned round at half-time to find that refreshing wind in his back. He knocked over a massive 50-yard penalty goal in the first minute, which made us wonder had Connacht enough on the board at half-time. Within three minutes we got the answer – Ward or no Ward this was going to be Connacht’s day. Canniffe tried a reverse pass to Ward which completely missed him, and no one enjoyed it more than the nimble-footed McGrath. He raced on to it, picked up superbly, veering left, and sent Paul O’Beirne over for a try . . . 13-3.
Jimmy Bowen and Moss Keane put a bit of devil into attacking Munster movements, and from one of them Keane won a five-yards scrum, and from it Canniffe sent Bowen in for a try in the right corner . . . 13-7.
Ward, now playing at his best, hit an upright with a drop kick but made it 13-10 with a 45-yard penalty after 17 minutes. Quaid kicked another penalty in the 31st minute and six minutes later Ward made it 16-13 with his third penalty. Then a jinking run by Lysaght, and Russell’s try, really clinched it with a minute to go, before Ward landed his fourth penalty, goal in injury-time.
CONNACHT: M Quaid (Galwegians); O Lysaght (Blackrock), C Young (Curragh), P O’Beirne (Galwegians), R Russell (Dublin University); C Hitchcock (UCG), R McGrath (Wanderers), B McGrath (Wanderers), C Fitzgerald (St Mary’s); J Healy (Galwegians), L Galvin (Athlone); J O’Driscoll (London Irish), JJ O’Reilly (Wanderers), N Hogan (Balllnasloe).
MUNSTER: L Moloney (Garryowen); J Crotty (UCC), G Barrett (Cork Constitution), G Nyhan (Lansdowne), J Bowen (Cork Constitution); A Ward (Garryowen), D Canniffe (Lansdowne); L White (London Irish), P Whelan (Garryowen), G McLoughlin (Shannon), M Keane (Lansdowne), B Foley (Shannon); C Cantillion (Cork Constitution), D Spring (Dublin University), J Daly (Sunday’s Well).
Referee: A Hosie (Scotland).
