Leinster hammer 14-man Connacht in Galway
URC REPORT: Fourteen-man Connacht were floored by six second-half tries as Leinster ran out 45-8 winners of a bruising United Rugby Championship derby at The Sportsground.
Connacht had centre Tom Daly sent off in the second minute for a no-arms tackle on Ciaran Frawley, but Tiernan O’Halloran’s try gave the hosts an 8-7 interval lead.
Jack Carty, who had kicked an earlier penalty, set up O’Halloran’s score with a pinpoint pass, replying to a converted 13th-minute effort from Leinster wing Rory O’Loughlin.
Going up a gear, replacement flyhalf David Hawkshaw and captain Luke McGrath crossed after 52 and 55 minutes to give Leinster some breathing space.
Hawkshaw increased his influence as Frawley bagged the bonus point before Tommy O’Brien (2) and Max Deegan made it a seven-try rout.
Referee Chris Busby was busy right from the off, sin-binning Leinster wing O’Brien after just 45 seconds for taking out Niall Murray in the air.
However, Connacht were rocked by Daly’s red card soon after as he was dismissed for a shoulder to Frawley’s neck.
Ross Byrne’s long pass had O’Loughlin crossing on the left after the Leinster forwards had carried up close.
The visitors, who were missing their contributors to Ireland’s Triple Crown success, were unable to build on that converted try, though.
Carty began the second quarter with a well-struck penalty and Connacht’s scrum got on top, a strong finish to the half leading to that well-crafted try for O’Halloran.
In response, Leinster sparked during the third quarter, with a barnstorming Rhys Ruddock run getting them back into scoring range.
Hawkshaw, who is joining Connacht in the summer, showed impressive strength to crash over. The 22-year-old converted and also added the extras to McGrath’s sniping effort as he exploited a gap in the hosts’ 22.
Hawkshaw then used a turnover to dangle a kick through, John Porch failed to gather it and Frawley swooped to score. The latter soon sent O’Brien over in the right corner.
Loose forward Deegan burrowed over in the 71st minute and O’Brien flew over from a sharp backs move, as Connacht’s play-off hopes took a big hit.
Player of the match
Ruddock was a key figure for Leinster up front, while Cian Prendergast and Oisin Dowling battled hard for Connacht.
Frawley emerged as the URC Player of the Match, his playmaking abilities to the fore, particularly when he dummied the defence and offloaded out the back to put O'Brien haring down the right touchline to score.
Play of the match
Carty scooped a superb long pass out for O'Halloran to touch down. Connacht were second best after that, though.
Leinster's attack gradually began to purr against the 14 men, their highlight seeing O'Brien released on an arcing run - with debutant Chris Cosgrave providing the dummy - and he straightened up to cut inside the final defender.
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Try: O'Halloran
Pen: Carty
For Leinster:
Tries: O'Loughlin, Hawkshaw, McGrath, Frawley, O'Brien 2, Deegan
Cons: Byrne, Hawkshaw 4
Red card: Tom Daly (Connacht, 2' - foul play)
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Tom Daly, 11 Oran McNulty, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Oisin Dowling, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Matthew Burke, 18 Greg McGrath, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sammy Arnold, 23 Diarmuid Kilgallen.
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Rory O’Loughlin, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Max Deegan, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 James Tracy, 1 Peter Doole.
Replacements: 16 Seán Cronin, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Martin Moloney, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Chris Cosgrave.
Referee: Chris Busby (England)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross, Peter Martin (both England)
TMO: Leo Colgan (England)
Additional source: @URCOfficial