Frawley runs home late winner

By KEVIN FALLON

Connacht ……..22 Leinster ………. 24

CIARAN Frawley was the hero for Leinster as he struck for a match-winning try in the 81st minute of an Irish derby which swung one way and the other in a gripping contest.

Connacht led 8-7 at the break with Mack Hansen twice involved in setting up replacement David Hawkshaw for the opening try after nine minutes.

JJ Hanrahan added a Connacht penalty while they had centre Cathal Forde in the bin for a high tackle but an understrength Leinster side struck before the break through Charlie Ngatai.

Leinster dominated the third quarter as Connacht's lineout disintegrated and they hit the front after 51 minutes when Jason Jenkins crowned his 28th birthday with a try after Connacht prop Peter Dooley was binned for not retreating. Leinster added a third from skipper Scott Penny after a grubber from Ngatai bounced kindly to lead 19-8 after 56 minutes.

Connacht got a lifeline 15 minutes from time when replacement Paul Boyle, back from injury for his first action of the season, put Forde away in midfield and he had his captain Caolan Blade on his shoulder to sprint home, with Hanrahan's conversion reducing the margin to 19-15. They hit the front 10 minutes from time when a turnover by Boyle saw Hansen produce more magic to break from deep down the left, draw the cover and send Diarmuid Kilgallen through for his fifth try of the campaign. Hanrahan converted to make it 22-19 to Connacht.

That should have been enough to see it out but Connacht lost a throw with the clock in the red and Leinster made them pay with a flowing movement which ended with full-back Frawley running a superb line on the right before cutting inside to score the winning try and net a bonus point as well.