Leinster 33
Connacht 7
Connacht’s hopes of making the URC quarter-finals were well and truly quashed by a rampant Leinster outfit at the RDS in the final round this evening.
Five tries to one was a true reflection of Leinster’s ability to convert possession and Connacht’s failure to do so, despite having sufficient possession and territory.
While Pete Wilkins’ men will rue the opportunities they failed to convert, Leinster’s defence was superb, producing 152 tackles.
Connacht, missing several key players, including Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki, will also look to a poor first half in which their execution misfired. Behind by 21-0 after 25 minutes, they lacked a clinical efficiency and composure with ball in hand, while Leinster started the game at a pace and ferocity, posting three early tries.
As a result the visitors were restricted to brief cameos in their opponents’ 22 and made too many errors, exacerbated by a Leinster side that rarely gave an inch in defence.
The home side, needing the five-points to keep them in contention for a home quarter-final if results elsewhere go their way, had posted three tries in the opening quarter.
They struck in the eighth minute, capitalising at the breakdown before Jack Conan, off the back of a scrum, cut through the Connacht backrow to open their tally, with Sam Prendergast adding the extras.
In the 17th minute Jimmy O’Brien posted the second try, once again coming from first phase ball, helped by key player Prendergast, who dummied before delivering to the Leinster fullback.
Prendergast and Conan was also instrumental in the third from Ciaran Frawley before Connacht gained some momentum. Although Jack Carty’s kick to the wing was well read by Leinster, within minutes Connacht were just shy of the line, helped in no small measure by Dave Heffernan. Cian Prendergast did well, but when Sean O’Brien found himself off his feet, the chance was spurned,
The best opportunity came minutes later through some slick passing from David Hawkshaw and Santiago Cordero, but Cian Prendergast, standing out on the wing, could not make the line, spilling possession to leave it 21-0 at half-time.
With pride at stake, Connacht’s made Leinster work much harder for their scores in the second half. Cordero was impressive. But for a Leinster player being in the right place at the right time, the Argentinian’s exquisite kick in field could have resulted in a try. Time after time he showed his skill set - something the Connacht fans can look forward to next season.
Wilkin’s men also denied Leinster an early bonus point when replacement Jack Aungier did well to stymie a grounding on the line, and Connacht continued to deny the hosts on several occasions.
Replacement Bryan Ralston added impetus, also denying Leinster again, and Connacht could take huge applause for eventually securing turnover possession, thanks to Cian Prendergast.
The respite continued when Michael Ala’Alatoa was yellow carded for foul play at the breakdown, but it was only a matter of time before the home side would claim their fourth try and bonus point. From Ross Maloney’s line-out catch and consequent drive, Sheehan burst from the back to dive over, securing maximum points.
Connacht, however, produced a superb consolation score. Shane Jennings was the key when breaking down the sideline, delivering to the supporting Conor Oliver, and Colm Reilly finished off to score his first senior try and Connacht’s first of the game after 64 minutes, with Daly converting.
Eventually, however, Jimmy O’Brien grabbed his opportunity, found a gap, and delivered the fifth try for Leinster on 74 minutes.
It was a tough end to a season that did not go Connacht’s way.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Ciarán Frawley, Rob Russell, Sam Prendergast, Cormac Foley, Ed Byrne, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Ross Molony, Brian Deeny, Rhys Ruddock, Scott Penny (C ), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Max Deegan for Conan (40 ), Ryan Baird for Ruddock (49 ), Michael Milne for Byrne and Michael Ala’alatoa for Clarkson (both 52 ) Luke McGrath for Russell (57 ), Harry Byrne for Frawley (62 ), Charlie Ngatai for O’Brien (68 ) Bryan Clarkson for Deeney (59-68 ),
Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Shane Jennings, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shane Mallon, Jack Carty (C ), Caolin Blade, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Colm Ryan for Blade (12-25 ), Denis Buckley for Dooley and Jack Aungier for Bealham (HT ), Byron Ralston for Mallon (43 ), Darragh Murray for Joyce, and Tom Daly for Carty (both 50 ), Colm Reilly for Blade (58 ), Dylan Tierney-Martin for Heffernan (69 ).
