Connacht 16
Glasgow 11
Murray Kinsella reports from the Sportsground
A FIRST-EVER Pro12 final for Connacht. Hell, a first-ever final.
They achieved it in as thrilling a manner as their entire season has been played out. Hearts were in mouths at times in the closing five minutes, after Rodney Ah You’s yellow card meant Pat Lam’s men finished with 14 players.
But with The Fields of Athenry booming around a Sportsground packed to bursting point, Connacht made history again.
Niyi Adeolokun’s brilliant first-half try was crucial, while the kicking of the assured and composed AJ MacGinty did the rest of the scoreboard damage in a 16-11 victory.
Bundee Aki’s delicious grubber set up Adeolokun’s try in the first half and he was man of the match yet again in another monumental display. There were standout displays all around the inspirational Aki, with the likes of Adeolokun, John Muldoon, Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion, Ultan Dillane and Tom McCartney excelling.
Connacht were the better team throughout, but Glasgow’s grit kept them in the contest even as they delivered a scrappy and indisciplined display.
It was Connacht’s defence that closed out the game. They dug in ferociously to keep the Scots camped in their own half as Gregor Townsend’s men desperately searched for the linebreak that might have allowed them to steal a place in the final.
Instead, it’s the westerners who advance into next weekend’s Pro12 decider against Leo Cullen’s Leinster. What a thriller that battle in Murrayfield promises to be.
An appearance in the final is only fitting after this remarkable season. The Sportsground was already filling up an hour before kick-off on a glorious day in Galway, and the party atmosphere will continue into the wee hours around the city.
Who would bet against this fairytale continuing in Edinburgh next weekend?
Referee Marius Mitrea’s lack of grip on the game contributed to a scrappy affair for the opening 30 minutes, while both sides made a high number of handling errors and gave up breakdown penalties regularly.
Aki sent a tone for his performance in the very first minute as he thundered into a carry that resulted in Glasgow out-half Finn Russell and tighthead Zander Fagerson both having to be replaced permanently due to head injuries.
After that injury interlude – Russell was stretchered off receiving gas – Marmion showed his intelligence with a sniping break that was halted only metres short of the Glasgow line by his opposite number Henry Pyrgos. Connacht knocked-on on the next phase.
MacGinty was attacking the line well for Connacht, although some of their passing in midfield was done while standing still, allowing Glasgow to make firm hits in that area.
A big Healy bust on a simple screen pass in the 20th minute shook the Scots, but the wing couldn’t link with the support either side of him in the backfield and Peter Horne was able to make what looked like an illegal turnover with his hands supporting his bodyweight.
Connacht came again as Duncan Weir – on for Russell – spilled the ball and Aki scooped it up to burst into the Glasgow 22. McCartney and Finlay Bealham shifted the ball wide right rapidly, where the excellent Tiernan O’Halloran broke and fed Eoin McKeon to round under the posts for what looked like a legitimate try.
Mitrea, however, wasn’t convinced and a review with TMO Carlo DaMasco showed that Aki had knocked the ball on as he gathered it.
The barnstorming centre was only spurred on by that frustration, his inside pass soon after allowing MacGinty to break off a scrum.
Ryan Wilson intercepted MacGinty’s offload, but Connacht forced the back row into touch and from the resulting lineout, Townsend’s backline weren’t back 10 metres. MacGinty opened the scoring from the tee with 24 minutes played.
Connacht were poor in their exit attempt following that score, however, with Aly Muldowney’s scripted pass putting Ronan Loughney under pressure. Fraser Brown pounced over the breakdown and won the penalty that allowed Weir to make it 3-3.
Aki’s big carry then resulted in a third Glasgow player – Simone Favaro – being replaced for a head injury, while the visitors continued to make uncharacteristic handling errors as they attempted to create the game’s first try.
It was Connacht who did so. Aki, of course, was instrumental.
His 37th-minute grubber was delicate down the right-hand 15-metre channel, resulting in the impressive Adeolokun deftly picking the bobbling ball, stepping inside Stuart Hogg and shaking off the desperate tackle attempts of Pyrgos and Duncan Weir 40 metres out from the tryline.
The run-in was a formality for Adeolokun after his show of skill and strength.
MacGinty converted, but again Connacht almost allowed Glasgow to respond. They knocked-on an offload attempt out of their 22, leading to a period of Glasgow pressure that almost ended with Leone Nakarawa dotting down.
The Fijian lock struck at the tryline from close range, but Loughney and MacGinty somehow combined to hold him up and bring about the relieving sound of the half-time whistle.
10-3 down, Glasgow came out of the blocks in the second half but were pinged in the Connacht 22 when Wilson held a Connacht defender off the ball to end a promising attack.
Nakarawa broke from the front of a lineout minutes later, but this time Gordon Reid lost the ball in midfield in the Connacht 22. Undeterred and now looking rampant, Glasgow burst back through the slaloming Bennett, who was stopped only by a brilliant Healy hit.
Glasgow retained possession this time, however, and Nakarawa went through MacGinty and Marmion from two metres out for a try wide on the left confirmed by the TMO.
Weir’s conversion sailed wide and Connacht were able to push back out to a five-point lead with a MacGinty penalty at the end of a period of attacking pressure that began with Pyrgos’ poor box kick, gathered by a scrambling Muldoon.
Connacht’s inability to exit well in response to their own scores struck again in the 57th minute as McKeon failed to release in the tackle and Weir brought the Glaswegians back to 13-11 heading towards the final quarter.
A silly penalty concession from Reid, diving on top of Marmion at ruck time, saw Connacht opt for the corner when they might have had a shot at goal – the second such instance in the second half.
Muldoon was held up over the tryline after darting off the first maul attempt, before Connacht won another penalty as Glasgow failed to roll away after the tackle. The Scots picked off the lineout, however, then did the same again after clearing their lines.
Missed opportunities but, with the lineout having failed, Connacht’s scrum delivered. Under pressure from Bealham, replacement Ryan Grant was penalised for driving in on the angle and MacGinty slotted the 65th-minute penalty for a 16-11 lead.
Connacht thought they had sealed the deal in the 71st minute, as Aki smashed Weir in the Glasgow 22, forcing the ball loose. Sean O’Brien – on for McKeon in the back row – pounced on the loose ball after MacGinty swung a foot at it, and then Connacht flashed the ball wide.
The hands from Heenan, Henshaw – a sublime tip-on pass – and O’Halloran found Adeolokun, who powered through Hogg for a superb finish in the right corner.
Mitrea initially awarded the try, sending the Spotsground into raptures, but then sent for the TMO review yet again. To some confusion, it was ruled that MacGinty’s hack of the ball had rebounded off Aki in an offside position. No try.
Lam was beginning to empty his bench at this point but the impact made by Ah You was not as desired. He went in high on Stuart Hogg and, again to the dismay of the Connacht Clan, Mitrea binned him to ensure a nervy endgame.
But Connacht’s resilience came to the fore and the Sportsground rocked.
Connacht scorers:
Tries: Niyi Adeolokun [2]
Conversions: AJ MacGinty [1 from 1]
Penalties: AJ MacGinty [3 from 3]
Glasgow scorers:
Tries: Leone Nakarawa
Conversions: Duncan Weir [0 from 1]
Penalties: Duncan Weir [2 from 2]
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki (Peter Robb ’71), Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Kieran Marmion (John Cooney ’60); Ronan Loughney (Rodney Ah You ’65 – YC ’75), Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham (Dave Heffernan ’69); Ultan Dillane (Andrew Browne ’61), Aly Muldowney; Eoin McKeon (Sean O’Brien ’61), Jake Heenan (JP Cooney ’75), John Muldoon (captain).
Replacement not used: Shane O’Leary.
GLASGOW: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne (Taqele Naiyaravoro ’60), Sean Lamont; Finn Russell (Duncan Weir ’1), Henry Pyrgos (Grayson Hart ’72); Gordon Reid (Ryan Grant ’63), Fraser Brown (Pat MacArthur ’60), Zander Fagerson (D’arcy Rae ’1 (HIA – Ryan Grant ’60 to ’63)); Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray (captain); Ryan Wilson, Simone Favaro (Adam Ashe ’29), Josh Strauss (Tim Swinson ’67).
Referee: Marius Mitrea [FIR].
Attendance: 7,800.
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Connacht Abu!!!!!!!!!!!
Best two teams in the final, that’s the way it should be.
Dead right, Chris. The cream has risen to the top. Let’s hope it stays dry in Scotland and both teams can play to their full attacking potential. Could be a cracker
Well done Connacht….it WILL BE a cracker.
The crack in Edinburgh will be almighty!
It’s just fecking unreal!
From bottom of the table 2 years ago to a final, playing great rugby with a great young squad of players. Princess Street here I come
Don’t you mean Princes St?
Well done Connacht, such a great achievement and done through exciting rugby. What a job Lam has done!
Sensational performance from all the lads. Defence the last 5/6 minutes was unreal! Absolutely chuffed, heroes the lot of them!
And Pat Lam just said Go raibh maith agat in his interview! Fantastic..beyond proud ☺
The West’s awake.
Remembering Joe McDonagh RIP.
Great to hear the Fields of Athenry sang by the right province at last. Munster need to get there own field
Sean, it’s sang by Munster supporters because it’s a Irish supporters song. Sang at international games nothing to do with province. Let’s enjoy the final without the usual Red v Blue crap.
The song is about Athenry in county Down smart ass! Now down you come from that horse.
Written by somebody from Dublin.
It’s Athenry in Galway. Pete St John himself has clarified this himself in interviews down through the years.
It is 100% about Athenry in Galway but at this point in time it is accepted as a kind of national anthem but it does obviously sit more comfortably with the province in which Athenry is situated!
Johnny, you mean red v green.
Nonsense. It’s about Athenry in Tipperary. Theiving westerners at it again
“The Fields of Athenry” is an Irish folk ballad set during the Great Irish Famine (1845–1850) about a fictional man named Michael from near Athenry in County Galway who has been sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia, for stealing food for his starving family.
They’re be a few more Westies on the plane to South Africa yet well done Connacht.
Let’s hope so, pity Healy was the less visible of the two wings, but he was still very good. Another chance to shine against his home province next week, too.
God bless you Bundee Ali, also when is mccartney Irish qualified, super player.
Aki*
McCartney is next year too.
I am Dub and I still hope they beat Leinster..best team by a mile in this year’s Pro12
True Dub eh?
Ah here! I’m all for supporting Connacht but support your own team ffs. If they beat Leinster they will be deserving champions and if the dont Leinster are champions! For the 3rd time in 4 years which would ne an excellent achievment in its own right. Leinster habe lost finals where the were miles ahead of the rest
Well put Fintin.
Loads of this ‘I’m a Leinster guy, but I don’t mind if Connacht win it’ rubbish being spouted lately
FFS, talk about hedging your bets.
……. and this ‘best team my a mile’
How can you make a statement like that when Leinster finished above them (albeit on points)
Best team by a mile was when Leinster were something like 11 or 12 points ahead of Ospreys who beat them in the final!
Jeez – we had ‘Lunsters’ in the past now what do you call a Leinster resident who supports Connacht? I admire what Connacht has achieved – but I’ll be wearing by blue jersey in Edinburgh!
A Leinacht supporter.
Missus wants to know what the tears are all about. Amazeballs.
Amazing*
I’m a disappointed Ulster fan, but on the upside I can now support Connacht in the final.
It’s nice to see two Irish teams in the final but I have to support Connacht, not just for the fact
their the underdogs but because they play some of the most exciting Rugby in the Pro12
and if they do win it will show Leinster and Munster that guts and steel is not just about defence
but how you attack the opposition with ball in hand.
@Cathal, I think Leinster did a fine job with the ball in hand last night and in fact Leinster have been playing with the ball in hand all season albiet the handling and invention in attack hasnt always been there. Compare that to Leinster under Matt O’ Connor where the team booted the ball away at every opportunity! Its a bit of an odd comment to focus on Leinster and Munster. I would say Connacht is showing all of Irish rugby what a team can do with an attractive brand of rugby. I wouldn’t say Connacht are underdogs in the traditional sense. They will stick it up to Leinster and are more than capable of beating Leinster ( if the big occassion doesnt get to them )
In fairness Cathal, pure defence didn’t slip three tries past Ulster on Friday.
No doubt Ulster can learn from Connacht but it’s not attack that’s our main problem, it’s defence. Leinster did play really well but Ulster not for the first time this season didn’t front up when the pressure came on them but I believe Les Kiss will improve that during his tenure with us.
Is Niyi Irish qualified? He played a blinder. That was a well deserved win. Glasgow were out classed for the full 80min.
Agreed. He is. But we wait and see if minds have opened sufficiently.
Gary, He went to secondary school in Dublin so I should think so!
Fintin, I knew he went to TCD but didn’t know he was in secondary school here or if he had a cap with another country. I’d like to see him getting a shot with Ireland. He has plenty of gas.
@Gary, He went to De La Salle Churchtown. Looking like a very good winger alright!
If that’s the case he needs to be going on the summer tour. Why hasn’t he been spoken about in the media for a call up? He’s exactly what the irish back line need
Niyi’s only been with Connacht a relatively short term. He’s always been a flyer (saw him play at Trinity) This year has seen him come on leaps and bounds in terms of his positioning and defence. His balance and power for both the try he scored and didn’t score were superb. In him and Healy Connacht have a pair of gems, they must come into the reckoning.
He has lived in Ireland since he was 10. He’s Irish qualified.
Great to see both Irish teams in the Pro 12 final. Congrats Connacht
Connacht are constantly doubted and they keep coming up with the goods. Should be a great final Leinster seem to be peaking at the right time. Adeolekun was superb his tackling is surprisingly good for his stature and lately his finishing has improved just when the critics were saying he wasnt scoring enough tries. Connacht Abú!!!!
“Leinster seem to be peaking at the right time”
People said the same about Glasgow and Ulster :)
Big difference is there’s a long culture of winning trophies in Leinster unlike the 2 teams you have mentioned and they have a lot more experience. But Connacht have passed every challenge in the pro12 so far, so I think they can pass this as well, only just though.
Yeah….. Reg, don’t get too cocky just yet. Not sure if you saw the Leinster Ulster game but they were playing seriously tough ball. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a very tough game for Connacht.
Superb result and performance by Connacht. It has been a great year. Now Leinster. That will be tough but what the he’ll, give it a good go
Bundee aki is pure class. He keeps on producing huge performances time after time. it’s going to be a good final to watch because connaught will play running rugby no matter what. So good to watch them play
Maith a fear Patrick O’Lam!!
Connaught deliver again and again and again..
Connacht
@Declan, Dave is right, it’s Connaught!
Kate, Declan, both are acceptable spellings of the word. Though Connacht is the more common and its the one utilised by the team.
@Kate, *Connacht
Semantics really Kate but Connacht is the historical spelling pre anglisation
@Fintan, Rascal and Declan, I stand corrected!! I suppose all that really matters is the score line!
No, all that matters is your spelling. Who cares about the rugby, it’s all about picking a fight in the comments section lol
Incredible, as the French would say!
Incroyable
Delighted !!
Wow that double bet I put on Leicester to win the league and connacht to win pro 12 is starting to look good
Nice one Connacht!!! See you in Edinbugh
Delighted, brilliant match, brilliant belief. They’ve consistently proven people like me wrong all season. Can’t wait to see Leinster hand them their arses on a plate next weekend.
A low percentage people so far have an eye for irony.
Did you really not learn your lesson after the sh!te you were spouting before the Ulster game a few weeks ago.
Actually scratch that carry on, it might be good luck for us
The big game experience will really stand to Leinster next week and if they play anything like last night it should be a cracker!
Didn’t seem to have much trouble with the Ulster match last night.
In the above, I was actually being positive about Connacht, whom I really like an respect and think have been awesome this year. A real triumph story in the sport.
I said they’ve “consistently proven people like me wrong”. So when I said they’d have their arses handed to them, I was implying that they’d prove me wrong.
There was humour to it, I’ll admit. But it’s still alright to make jokes, correct?
Talking out of your arse by the sounds of it there rascal
I’m not talking out of my arse, I’m typing with my DICK
Been out all evening and only just got home. I am absolutely delighted for Connacht! Leinster Connacht final?! That’s my weekend made!
Hope you had a lovely evening.
Brilliant stuff. Legends the lot of them.
To be honest I spotted the knock on and offside in real time so can’t complain about the disallowed tries
They may have been disallowed but both were fantastic tries.
From a heartbroken Ulster (and Rangers) fan. I am chuffed to bits for Connacht.
Four proud provinces.
Super Connacht! A great side- can really dig deep and fight for each other.
Sign of a great team.
Go all the way!!!
Well lead on the field by John Muldoon.
The Wests awake, the Wests AWAKE!!
The Pale Vs To Hell or to Connacht.
Ah here Noel….too far.
There are republican families inside the Pale including my own.
The pale isn’t even a concept that exists within its so called boundaries. In Dublin we just consider ourselves ‘Irish’ as mad as that sounds. Also, there are Leinster born lads who play for Leinster who are from outside of the so called pale.
Rascal there’s one it to from Leinster who play for Connacht, it matters not. I was not a believer until recently and now I have to say the westies are the real deal
Was there no way the final could could be switched to ireland
Agree. This new process of a pre determined final is a joke. The old way of deciding the venue for the final was better.
Flight costs to edinburgh will jacked up
What were the betting odds of Connacht making the Pro 12 final?
As a Leinster man living in Connacht, this final is apples & oranges for me. And if Connacht win the final, I have to say I’d rather lose to no one else.
What an afternoon !
What a season !
What a squad !
What passion & determination,
Can’t sleep !
So excited !
Roll on the fairy tale !
Connacht played in a challenge cup or Parker pen final years ago if I remember correctly
That goes against everything people have been saying, but I don’t have the facts.
3 times semi finalists
’04 ’05 and ’10
You idiot!
What a cracker. Best match of the championship by a long way. Here’s hoping they can go all the way next weekend.
Well done Connacht .and the 20 county army are behind you. . Hope Nigel Owens refs the final. . Need a strong ref to officiate Leinster
Got absolutely smashed last night after the match. Galway was electric all evening. Connacht Abu
Got absolutely trashed last night celebrating the win. Galway was electric. Connacht Abu!