Daly’s early red card sees Connacht endure a hiding

Connacht 8

Leinster 45

JOHN FALLON AT THE SPORTSGROUND

CONNACHT head coach Andy Friend had no issue with the decision by referee Chris Busby to send off centre Tom Daly for a high tackle on Ciaran Frawley after less than three minutes, but admitted that it changed the course of the game at the Sportsground on Saturday night.

And while Connacht battled gamely for the remainder of the opening half and actually led 8-7, they were blown away once one of the four Leinster players who will join them in the summer, David Hawkshaw, crossed after 53 minutes for one of six unanswered second-half tries in a 45-8 win.

“Leinster are a tough team to play with 15 men not 14,” said Friend. “I thought the first 40 we showed enormous courage and fight and intent, but it caught up on us in the end.

“We said at half-time that we are going to need a really good last 40 minutes and do something special, but it wasn’t to be. We had too many turnovers and they went up another gear and were too good for us in the end.

“I said at half-time we need to look after the football but in the first four minutes we turned over two balls . You can’t compete at this level with 14 men if you are giving away such easy possessions.”

Friend said that while he was obviously disappointed for Daly, there was no quibble with the red card.m“He has just apologised to the group in the shed there. It’s one of those things, I know there is not intent in that to hurt, but at the same time you know you can’t hit shoulder off the head. It’s a red card, so get your knee on the ground and make sure you are not going to go in high.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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