Connacht rugby team are still not ‘helping themselves'

By JIM CARNEY EVEN from all of the Connacht rugby team's admirers in the corridors of power, and in the influential national media, the warning has always been that the players must 'help themselves' if they are to survive as the so-called fourth proud province of Irish rugby. In other words, while the I.R.F.U. can continue to fund Connacht as a major professional unit, there simply has to be more than player-development coming back. Somewhere down the line, there must be good results too, especially at home. Connacht vs Munster at Galway Sportsground on Monday evening was sold out â€â€ 5,000 tickets bought â€â€ and while it wasn't quite a full house because of heavy rain on the day, it was a golden opportunity for the home side to put their best foot forward and show what they could do with that kind of loyal, morale-boosting support. Sadly, all they got was an opportunity lost: Connacht 12 Munster 16. It couldn't even be said that Connacht were gallant in defeat. In allowing Munster open a seven-point lead at the top of the Magners League table, Eric Elwood's team didn't defend well enough to prevent the only try of the game, and ultimately it cost the hosts what would have been a super result, and in that scenario the performance wouldn't have mattered all that much. Munster centre Tom Gleeson's try in the 68th minute was considered a fluke. The home side â€Â¨Ã¢€Â¨were leading 12-6 when they failed to deal with a loose ball over their own line, and the more alert Gleeson got the touchdown. Ronan O'Gara thumped a magnificent conversion kick to change the scoreline to 13-12 in his team's favour and then won the game with a drop goal. Yesterday morning, the national media highlighted Eric Elwood's annoyance over a late hold-up in the play and how Munster handled a change in personnel. Their flanker Niall Ronan was yellow-carded and then followed six minutes of stoppage-time in which Connacht forced three scrums and two penalties only to be somehow held at bay by desperate defence. â€Â¨Ã¢€Â¨Munster moved Denis Hurley from the wing to No. 8 in the set-pieces to compensate for Ronan's absence and having replaced loose-head prop Wian Du Preez on 70 minutes, they were able to recall him to the fray when his replacement, Dave Ryan, was withdrawn, apparently with an injury. â€Â¨Ã¢€Â¨Connacht were that close and Eric Elwood was clearly very annoyed at that 'development.' Under pressure for long periods, not playing well and missing eight internationals from their first-choice XV, Munster got out of jail. No wonder the Connacht fans felt more like crying, rather than singing, in the rain. For the record, Munster lined out here without the suspended Paul O'Connell and fellow Ireland internationals Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Tony Buckley and Keith Earls, and the former All-Blacks star Doug Howlett, recently in the news for the wrong reasons, after a highly-publicised street incident in Kilkenny, following a Christmas party. In fairness, Connacht did really well in the scrums and late in the game they put the Munster defence under intense pressure by camping close-in. But they were repeatedly held up short of the try-line, and so they slumped to their sixth successive League defeat. They're now in second-last place, behind the outclassed Italians, Aironi Rugby Club, from the Lombardy and Emilia Romagna regions. Connacht coach Eric Elwood has only five days to lift his troops back up for another tough League assignment, away to Leinster at the RDS on New Year's Day â€â€ a Leinster team who've just slammed Ulster 30 - 13 at Ravenhill, Belfast. It's all very frustrating, and even depressing, for Connacht rugby, and it takes the gloss off the loudly-trumpeted IRFU survival plan for the province. That feelgood factor quickly gave way to amazement at reports that three of our top players, Ireland hooker Seán Cronin, out-half Ian Keatley and wing Fionn Carr would be transferring east and south at the end of the season. On a more positive note, well done to Connacht centre Keith Matthews who captained his team against Munster, to mark his 92nd appearance. From Limerick, he's actually a former Munster player who came here in 2005 and has since played for Connacht in 68 League games and 23 European Challenge Cup fixtures. He was capped against Argentina Jaguars when selected for Ireland 'A' in November 2009, along with Connacht team-mates John Muldoon, Brett Wilkinson, Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy. There are very disappointing times for the lion-hearted Connacht captain John Muldoon who was ruled out after fracturing an arm against Harlequins recently. It's thought the stalwart Portumna man will be out of action for several months. Connacht are getting over the disappointment of the Challenge Cup, and will now concentrate on the Magners League. Fit-again flanker Johnny O'Connor, a Galway man, was quoted over the Christmas as saying he was happy with most of the League performances, but 'we need to start getting results,' he added. The only victory in their last seven matches was against the touring Samoans in Galway in November. It is surely ironic that the official granting of a more secure future should be followed by injuries, loss of form and news of three star players making plans to be in other parts of the country next season. Scorers for Connacht: I Keatley 4 pens; â€Â¨Munster, T Gleeson try; R O'Gara con, 2 pens, drp gl. Connacht: T Nathan; D. Fanning, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, captain, F Carr; I Keatley, C Willis; R Sweeney, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, M McCarthy, A Browne, J O'Connor, E Taylor. Replacements: M McComish for Taylor (h-t); B Fa'amausili for Sweeney (68 mins); B. Upton for O'Connor (80 mins). Munster: P Warwick; B Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; R O'Gara, captain, P Stringer; W du Preez, M Sherry, P Borlase; Donnacha Ryan, I Nagle; A Quinlan, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: T. O'Donnell for Butler (19-24); B Holland for Quinlan, inj. (47 mins); J Hayes for Borlase and O'Donnell for Butler (56 mins); Dave Ryan for Du Preez (70 mins); Dr Press for Dave Ryan (80 mins). Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU). PROFESSIONAL sport isn't doing local soccer clubs any great favours, either. It's been announced that one of the most talented young players in the county is leaving Galway United to join English club Sheffield Utd. The deal was done early last week and the Republic of Ireland U-21 international said he was thrilled to be starting an exciting new chapter in his career, at Bramall Lane. Always regarded highly, he has been capped for Ireland at several levels, from U-17s up to the U-21s. Sheffield United, currently 20th in the npower Championship, are on the lookout for a new manager to replace new Wales boss Gary Speed. Conneely, aged 21, is the second League of Ireland player to make the move to Bramall Lane in recent weeks, with St Pat's midfielder David McAllister also set to start over there on January 1st. Séamus Conneely joined Galway Utd in 2007, from Mervue Utd. He was born in London but moved with his parents to Connemara. Galway Utd say they are disappointed to lose such a brilliant young player but are delighted he's stretching his horizons and wish him all the best across-Channel. Happy New Year from all at Herald Sport