Classy Carty steers Connacht back to big time
JACK CARTY produced another tour de force at No10 as Connacht sealed a place in the Pro14 playoffs for the first time since they won the title back in 2016.
Carty, arguably the form out-half in Ireland at present, capped off a 14point haul with another spectacular solo try.
First half tries from Caolin Blade and Gavin Thornbury laid the foundation before Matt Healy made the result safe in the dying minutes.
Ulster will host Andy Friend’s men in the quarterfinals on the first weekend of May. As things stand, the winner of that one will be travelling to Scotstoun to face Glasgow in a daunting semi-final. For now, Connacht can bask in the glory for a hard-fought victory at a heaving Sportsgrounds.
This four-try victory has also guaranteed the Westerners a place in the European Champions Cup next season for good measure.
They had the perfect start in Galway when young flanker Paul Boyle burst through the fringes of the ruck before he offloaded brilliantly to Blade, who raced in under the posts. Carty added the conversion as the hosts raced into a 7-0 lead.
Cardiff replied with a fine try from wing Owen Lane, but Connacht regained the lead when lock Thornbury touched down from the back of a surging lineout maul.
Carty fired over a 47th minute penalty to nudge his side into a 17-7 before his audacious individual effort. A sweeping move involving Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki and Tiernan O’Halloran finished with Carty chipping and regathering to crash over near the posts. The visitors would claw their way back into the contest thanks to a Gareth Anscombe penalty and a try from flanker Josh Turnbull.
But Healy applied a brilliant finish in the corner as Connacht extended their lead to 29-17 with seven minutes remaining.