O’Donnell starts for Connacht
SLIGO’S Conan O’Donnell was among the starting lineup for Connacht as they faced Edinburgh for Friday’s Guinness PRO 14 round 3 match in Murrayfield.
The Strandhill Road native was part of Andy Friend’s side who earned a losing bonus point in Murrayfield.
A Connacht fightback in the final 20 minutes of the game earned a losing bonus point against Edinburgh in Murrayfield.
Having led 17-0 going into the final quarter, the home side looked to be in control, but Connacht were right in this game up to the final whistle.
Edinburgh enjoyed the majority of first half possession but some brave defending in the opening 20 minutes managed to keep the Scottish side out.
When Jarrad Butler went into the sin bin though, Edinburgh capitalised in the 25th minute when Duhan van der Merwe got in the corner.
The out half then converted from the touchline and followed up with penalty on the stroke of half time to give the home side went in 10-0 at the break.
In the second half, Connacht again defended bravely but Pierre Schoeman was credited with a try for Edinburgh in the 55th minute off a rolling maul.
When van der Merwe converted, Edinburgh looked in control with a 17 point lead.
But Connacht refused to throw in the towel and on the 60th minute Jack Carty found Niyi Adeolokun with a fantastic pass and they winger got in in the corner.
When Carty kicked the conversion from then touchline, Connacht were right back in this game.
Connacht were now doing all the attacking and with less than five minutes on the clock, a visit to the Edinburgh resulted in a Connacht penalty which Carty duly converted. Unfortunately for Connacht though this was to be the last score of the game.
Connacht came away with a losing bonus point which a massive home game against Scarlets to come this Saturday at 5:15pm.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Kyle Godwin (Bundee Aki, 50), Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion (Caolin Blade, 51), Conan O’Donnell (Peter McCabe, 36), Dave Heffernan (Shane Delahunt, 47), Finlay Bealham (Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 60), Gavin Thornbury, Ultan Dillane (James Cannon, 56), Sean O’Brien (Colby Fainga’a, 47), Jarrad Butler, Paul Boyle.