Connacht 20

 Munster 11

JOHN FALLON AT THE SPORTSGROUND

LONG-serving prop Finlay Bealham got the perfect early birthday present when he scored a try, got his first ever man-of-the-match award, and Connacht got their season up and running at the Sportsground as Munster collapsed to their third defeat in a tough URC clash.

Andy Friend’s men, playing their first home game after three successive away losses, came from behind to fashion a deserved win and deepen the crisis for new Munster coach Graham Rowntree.

Bealham, who brought his Irish caps to 25 in New Zealand during the summer, was 31 on Sunday and couldn’t have asked for a better start to the weekend as they pulverised the Munster pack to crown their first game on the astroturf at the Sportsground with a win.

“We have had a really tough start to the season so to come out and get the result means so much to this group. I’m so proud of this group, it’s been an unbelievable night,” said Bealham, who has now made 177 appearances for Connacht..

There was little between the sides in the opening half but Munster went in leading 8-5 after making the most of what they managed to create.

Both sides had hoped to obliterate the basic errors which had blighted their three games to date but the opening half was stop-start as neither team managed to develop lengthy phases.

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

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