Ireland got the first score of the match when after 15 minutes Mick O’Driscoll touched down. Paddy Wallace added the conversion and did the same 5 minutes later when Leo Cullen received a quick lineout and ran in from 5m out. Captain John Muldoon was brought to a halt 3 metres from the line following some superb Connacht scrummaging and from the resulting pressure earned a penalty which Niall O’Connor converted. Big carries from Henry Fa’afili and Mick Kearney, and some swift footwork from Tiernan O’Halloran, Eoin Griffin and Mark McCrea kept Connacht on the attack while some solid defense from Michael Swift, George Naoupu and Niall O’Connor kept the Ireland attack at bay. Connacht were unfortunate not to add to their tally when O’Connor puched a kick just wide of the posts. Paddy Wallace did the same on the 40min mark to leave the halftime score Ireland Select XV 14 Connacht 3

Geordan Murphy scored a try for Ireland after some quick hands left him free on the inside, Wallace missed the conversion and Connacht were forced into a period of defense on the halfway line. TJ Anderson replaced Mick Kearney and Matthew Jarvis came on for Tiernan O’Halloran. Johnny O’Connor came on for Ray Ofisa at openside as the intensity of the first half started to show. Ireland flooded the bench with 20 minutes to go and just as Connacht seemed to have the edge in the scrum as long looping pass saw Fergus McFadden touch down in the corner giving Ireland a 26 3 lead with 15 minutes to go. Connacht gained possession from the restart but a knock on deep inside the Ireland XV allowed Ireland to move the ball quickly and former Connacht outhalf Ian Keatley ran in for a try. Wallace converted. James Loxton replaced Mark McCrea on the wing as Connacht surged into the Irish half but Ireland were able to relieve the pressure when referee Peter Fitzgibbon deemed Connacht to be using their hands in a ruck. Dave Moore came on for Paul O’Donohoe with 5 minutes to go. Ireland scored another try through the hands of Denis Hurley but Paddy Wallace couldn’t add the extras and Ireland ran out 38 3 victors

Ireland Select XV

15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Ian Keatley, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Iaasc Boss, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Kevin McLoughlin, 5 Leo Cullen (C), 4 Mick O’Driscoll, 3 John Hayes, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Tony Buckley

Connacht XV

15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Mark McCrea, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Henry Fa’afili, 11 Brian Tuohy, 10 Niall O’Connor, 9 Paul O’Donohoe, 8 George, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mick Kearney, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Dylan Rogers

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