Connacht Ready For Action

Date Published: 29-Aug-2008

COMPETITIVE Friday night rugby returns to the Sportsground next week when Connacht host the Ospreys in the first round of the Magners League (6.30 p.m.).

Following on from their pre-season friendlies against Leeds Carnegie, Harlequins, London Welsh, and the Queensland Reds, Connacht will be hoping for a good start after the disappointment of finishing bottom of the table last year.

Michael Bradley’s side produced a fine performance in Tuesday night’s 24-12 victory over Queensland, with the likes of new recruit Mike Roberts (two tries) and Fionn Carr (one) making strong cases for starting places in the Magners League.

The new-look pairing of out-half Ian Keatley and scrum-half Frank Murphy impressed against the Australian visitors, particularly in the first half when the home side ran up a 24-0 lead.

New captain John Muldoon produced a bone-crunching tackle to end a Reds attack and set up Carr’s five pointer, while the likes of hooker Sean Cronin, Keith Matthews, and Gavin Duffy also did well against an understrength Queensland side.

Bradley was delighted that the hunger of some players indicated there would be…