Fionn Carr scores for Connacht against London Irish on Friday night. Photo: James Crombie/INPHO

Connacht 10

London Irish 27

Connacht went down to a strong London Irish side in the second round of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground on Friday night.

A crowd of 4,186 created a great atmosphere and they were treated to an exciting opening half where there was nothing between the sides.

However, last year’s Heineken Cup semi-finalists showed their class after the restart and took control of the game.

It was disappointing for Connacht not to at least get a bonus point as both of the visitors’ first-half tries came from turnovers.

Samoan international Elvis Seveali’I pounced for the first of these after nine minutes.

And then just when it seemed Liam Bibo was about to put Fionn Carr in for a seven-pointer the move broke down and London Irish broke for a try at the other end from another Samoan, Sailosi Tagicakibau.

But Connacht hit back and were rewarded when the impressive Johnny O’Connor put Carr through for a fine try after 17minutes which was converted by Ian Keatley.

That left it 12-7 to London Irish at the break but they got a huge boost four minutes after the restart when Topsy Ojo scored their third try.

Peter Hewat added the points for a 19-7lead.

Hewat and Keatley traded penalties but the try Connacht required to get back in the game would just not come and it was London Irish who secured a bonus point when Ojo crossed for their fourth try late in the game.

Connacht:

Try: Carr

Con: Keatley

Pen: Keatley

London Irish:

Tries: Ojo (2), Seveali’I, Mapusua

Cons: Hewat (2)

Pen: Hewat

Connacht: F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, A Wynne, J Hearty; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris, M Swift, A Farley, R Ofisa, J O'Connor, J Muldoon.

Replacements: R Loughney for Morris, 53mins; S Cronin for Flavin, 54 mins; Morris for Wilkinson, 59  mins; A Browne for Swift, 61 mins; CRigney for Morris, 65 mins; A Dunne for Hearty, 67 mins; T Nathan for Muldoon,74 mins; K Campbell for Murphy, 76 mins.

London Irish: D Armitage; T Ojo, E Seveali'i, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; P Hewat, P Hodgson; A Corbisiero, J Buckland, T Lea'aetoa, N Kennedy, B Casey, R Thorpe, S Armitage, C Hala'Ufia.

Replacements: C Dermody for Corbisiero, half-time; F Rautenbach for Lea’aetoa, 53 mins; D Paice for Buckland, 53 mins; D Danaher for Thorpe, 57 mins; S Geraghty for Seveali’i, 65 mins; G Johnson for Rautenbach, 67 mins; T Parker for Hodgson, 77 mins.

Referee: Jeromé Garces (France).