Connacht 33

Brive 24

John Fallon reports from Pompadour

A SUPERB HAT-trick from Cian Kelleher ensured the Andy Friend era in charge of Connacht got off to a flying start in France.

The winger opened Connacht’s account and then struck twice after the restart to give Connacht an edge over a Brive side who will begin their promotion bid in ProD2 next week.

Kelleher’s hat-trick was enough to ensure a winning start for Friend against a Brive side now coached by Jeremy Davidson.

Connacht came from behind to lead 21-19 at the end of a good opening half which saw Brive, with Stuart Olding impressing at inside centre, racing into a 12-0 lead after ten minutes.

Kelleher got the first try of the Friend era when he crossed in the right corner after 23 minutes and prop Peter McCabe got over nine minutes from the break, with Jack Carty’s second conversion making it 14-12 to Connacht.

Brive hit back for a third try from scrum-half Samuel Marques but Connacht led at the break when Matt Healy raced over and Craig Ronaldson converted.

Kelleher got his second try ten minutes after the restart and completed his hat-trick five minutes later before being substituted.

Brive hit back with a try from Retief Marais on a day when new signings Kyle Godwin, David Horwitz and Joe Maksymiw made notable debuts off the bench.

Scorers for Brive: Tries: D Waqaniburotu, S Cerquira, S Marques, R Marais. Cons: M Ugalde (2)

Scorers for Connacht: Tries: C Kelleher (3), P McCabe, M Healy. Cons: C Ronaldson (2), J Carty (2)

Brive: G Namy; K Bradua, A Mignardi, S Olding, A Muller; M Ugalde, S Marques; V Devisme, F de Ros, D Bamba; D Lagrange, P Marais; D Waqaniburotu, S Cerqueira, O Giordadze.

Replacements: T Acquier, L Goginava, V Lebas, Y Uys, R Marais, M Voisin, P Narisia, D Delarue, E Herve, F Romanet, B Petre, P Nacebe, S Bekoshvili, C Thomas, V Lobzhanidze, L Jammes.

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Eoin Griffin, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, Peter McCabe, Shane Delahunt, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson,  Jarrad Butler, Eoin McKeon

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Conan O’Donnell, Dominick RoberstonMcCoy, Cillian Gallagher, Joe Maksymiw, Eoin McKeon, Craig Ronaldson, Darragh Leader, Matthew Burke, Peter Robb, Rory Scholes, Kieran Joyce, Kyle Godwin, James Mitchell, David Horwitz.

Referee: Cyril Lafon.

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