Connacht displayed enormous heart and passion to carve out a hard-earned  victory at the Sportsground on Friday evening.

Connacht’s superb defence was the foundation for the first win of the campaign.

Glasgow had the better of the exchanges early on and slipped into an 8-0 lead thanks to a penalty from Dan Parks after just 90 seconds and a try from Thom Evans after 22 minutes.

But then Connacht got going when full-back Fionn Carr intercepted on his own 22, scarpered down the right-wing and had the pace to cut in and touch down under the posts.

Ian Keatley added the points to leave just a point between the sides.

But Connacht were now on the front foot and a superb break off a lineout by scrum-half Frank Murphy set up prop Brett Wilkinson for his first try since arriving from South Africa over two years ago.

That left Connacht leading by 12-6 at the interval and they were forced to defend again after the restart.

Carr almost broke for his second try of the game in the right corner but a tight decision ruled he knocked on before touching down.

Try scoring chances were at a premium during a tense second-half with Colin Gregor fluffing a few kicks for the Scots before Andy Dunne kept his nerve to land a late penalty and seal a great win.

Connacht:

Tries: Carr, Wilkinson

Con: Keatley

Pen: Dunne

Glasgow:

Try: T Evans

Pen: McMillan

Connacht: F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, J Hearty; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney.

Replacements: A Dunne for Keatley, 50 mins; R Loughney for Morris, 54 mins; J O’Connor for Ofisa, 58 mins; A Flavin for Cronin, 65 mins; A Browne for McCarthy, 76 mins; M Deane for Duffy, 80mins.

Glasgow: B Stortoni; H O’Hara, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, M McMillan; J Va’a, D Hall, M Low; O Palepoi, A Kellock; S Swindall, J Barclay, K Brown.

Replacements: C Gregor for Parks, inj. 34 mins; J Beattie for Swindall, 51 mins; E Milligan for Hall, 61 mins; R Jackson for McMillan, 61 mins;  D Turner for Palepoi, 61 mins; K Tkachuk for Va’a, 61 mins; A Henderson for O’Hare, 67 mins.

Referee: D Bodilly(WRU).