Griffin stars for Connacht against tourists

Date Published: 11-Nov-2010

Connacht 26

Samoa 22

Rob Murphy at

the Sportsground

THIS game will have done Eric Elwood and his young squad the world of good. It was a welcome distraction from intense Magners Legaue battles and a chance to look at some of his emerging talent in action.

The come from behind victory that ensued on an entertaining Tuesday night at the Sportsground will be a huge fillip for the coach and his team. Connacht upped the ante in this friendly, live on national television, highlighting the potential on the fringe of their current starting xv and the hard work being done at academy level in the province.

Eoin Griffin took the man of the match award while Eoin McKeon, Aidan Wynne, Shane Conneely and Dermot Murphy were all involved and to the fore. This was a night when Connacht got to show their value and Elwood got to sample some of his fringe players in full flight.

As a result, the supporters were treated to a contest that sparked at different intervals and kept them enthralled right to the end. Brian Touhy’s first half try will be top of the highlight reel, John Muldoon coming on to score a second half try would also make the cut as would some big hits from McKeon, Taylor, McComish not to mention that through the legs pass from a nerveless Griffin midway through the second half. Samoa played their part.

They led by eight before half time, scored three tries and never looked out of the contest, yet they were clearly a step behind in terms of drive and intensity. Considering this was a Connacht side without 13 front line players, that is some statement.

The Connacht academy is working, local talent is flourishing at the moment, McKeon was excellent on Tuesday and is already looking a strong contender for a Six Nations starting spot with the Irish under 20s.

The young Galwegian made his debut last year away to Scarlets and despite being a lamb in a proverbial slaughter that night, he showed his worth.Now he is flourishing along with the likes of Shane Conneely who came on for McComish late on and was awash with focused energy. Aidan Wynne is well established now anyways, yet once again his defence and timing of passes (not least during the move for the try) caught the eye. Corinthians flyer Eoin Griffin was the star of the day, RTE’s man of the match put in a sparkling eighty minutes. Defensively strong and a constant threat going forward be it sniping at gaps or trundling for extra yards in the tight. The injured Niva Ta’auso’s jersey is up for grabs and he has put his hand up for it.