Photo: Ray Ryan

New years day glory for connacht rugby team against munster

SAVING the best of their festive form until the last of their three inter-pro matches, Connacht’s Pro12 triumph over Munster on New Year’s Day has rubberstamped the conviction that there is a lot more to come from Pat Lam’s team.
Fireworks welcomed the home side onto the pitch at the Sportsground last Thursday evening with a capacity crowd of 7,745 swept up in an electric atmosphere that was impenetrable by galeforce winds and sheet rain.
While their home ground has become a near-fortress — Connacht are unbeaten at the Sportsground this season — the elements and a strong Munster pack proved a force to be reckoned with, the latter of which dominated the first 30 minutes of the match after their captain Peter O’Mahony scored his side’s only try of the game, on ten minutes. And superb kicking by fly-half Ian Keatley delivered a 13-0 scoreline for the visitors on the half-hour mark.