O’Connor’s late strike earns Connacht a lifeline

Date Published: 22-Apr-2008

CONNACHT snatched an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat with an injury-time Johnny O’Connor try against Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales on Friday night.

The westerners were trailing by 11-6 and were hanging on for dear life in the second half when O’Connor, with their first real chance of the second half, powered over from close range in the 82nd minute to level the scores.

Replacement outhalf Andy Dunne, who had a nightmare with the boot against Ulster last week which cost him his starting place on Friday, slotted over the conversion to seal the two point win.

A number of times this season Connacht have found themselves on the wrong side of demoralising narrow defeats and this victory will provide the team and supporters with a much-need boost ahead of the two remaining Magners League fixtures.

The win also puts pressure on Ulster who crashed to their eighth away defeat of the campaign against Cardiff on Saturday and, mathematically at least, Connacht are still in contention for a place in next season’s Heineken Cup.

Connacht are now trailing Ulster by just four points but the northerners have a game in hand and play their remaining matches at Ravenhill. The Dragons, who………………………

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Johnny O’Connor’s column