Kiltoom’s Jack Carty kicked two conversions a penalty and a drop goal to help Connacht to a 30-20 win over Dragons on his 150th Connacht cap.
It was also a special night for Finlay Bealham and Carty, both of whom made their 150th appearance for the province. Oisin Dowling, meanwhile made his debut as a second-half replacement.
Tries from Matt Healy, Abraham Papali’i, Caolin Blade, and Tom Daly accounted for the visitors’ tries, while Jack Carty added two conversions a penalty, and a dropkick to the final tally.
The Dragons, registered three tries Richard Hibbard claiming a hat-tric b but it was the Westerners who deservedly claimed all five points.
The Dragons’ signalled their intent early with a Sam Davies penalty giving them a 3-0 lead.
Carty was influential in Connacht’s opening try, his sumptuous cross-field kick landed accurately in Matt Healy’s hands who touched down for the try.
Minutes later Conancht were in again, Delahunt feed a pass to Papali’i who ran a powerful line powering his way through attempted Dragons’ tackles to touch down.
Richard Hibbard got Dragons back in the game touching the ball down for dragons try from a maul, but Carty accurately kicked a penalty to tie the game at 13 points apiece at half-time.
Connacht began the second-half and made it count on the scoreboard just over five minutes into the half.
Scrum-half Blade gathered the pass to score with Carty slotting the extras to give Connacht a 20-13 lead.
Dragons responded in strong fashion and they piled the pressure on the visitors’ defence. Hibbard was once again the benefactor of a rolling maul and touching down at the base for a try which Davies converted to draw the team’s level at 20-20.
That was as good as it got for the home team, though, as Connacht pulled away in the final 20 minutes.
Replacement Kieran Marmion brought fresh impetus from the bench and the Irish international played a prominent role in the Westerners’ bonus point sealing try.
Carty slotting the extras to take Connacht into a 27-20 lead.
Carty then made sure of the win a sweetly struck drop kick and Connacht head home with all five match day points.
