Connacht 27 Portugal 11:IRISH UNDER-20 John O'Brien crowned a fine debut for Connacht with an excellent try as Michael Bradley's men put Portugal to the sword at the Sportsground last night.
The Clifden native finished off a fine move two minutes before the break to score the opening try against a feisty Portugal who continue to build on their World Cup finals showing last year.
Portugal, playing the first of two matches in Ireland, tackled magnificently in the opening half with the result the sides were deadlocked at 3-3 approaching the break.
Incessant Connacht pressure had yielded just an Andy Dunne penalty which was cancelled into the teeth of a Sportsground gale by Pedro Cabral after half an hour.
But then O'Brien finished a fine move and Connacht never looked back, going in 17-3 in front after Troy Nathan made a fine diagonal run from halfway.
Portugal winger Goncalo Foro got in for a try after 49 minutes, but Connacht closed out the issue with tries from Brett Wilkinson and Mel Deane.
Portugal will meet Ulster on Thursday night.
CONNACHT: Tries: O'Brien, Nathan, Wilkinson, Deane Cons: Dunne (2) Pen: Dunne Portugal: Try: Foro Pens: Cabral (2).
CONNACHT: J O'Brien; T Nathan, J Hearty, A Wynne, D Riordan; A Dunne, K Campbell; J Lyne, A Flavin, R Morris; D Nolan, D Gannon; M McCarthy, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: R Loughney for Morris (32 mins); M Deane for Wynne (half-time); T Donnelly for Riordan (54 mins); C O'Loughlin for Campbell; J Merrigan for Flavin; B Wilkinson for Lyne (all 57 mins); Riordan for Nathan (68 mins); C Muldoon for Nolan (78 mins).
PORTUGAL: V Gaspar; A Esteves, D Gama, M Leal, G Foro; P Cabral, J Pinto; J Junior, J Correia, J Severino; G Silvan, V Jorge; J Bardi, S Palha, E Acosta. Replacements: A Sosa for Palha (15 mins); L Balague for Sosa (57 mins); Y Ricardo for Leal (65 mins); N Taful for Correia (68 mins); L Kadosh for Pinto (75 mins).
Referee: S McDowell.
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