Connacht failed to overturn a full strength Treviso on Friday night but earned a valuable bonus point in the process. 3614 Connacht supporters were treated to a fine start and Connacht’s early pressure resulted in a penalty deep in the Treviso half but the windy conditions got the better of Niall O’Connor’s lick and it was Treviso who scored 1st with a de Waal penalty after 11 minutes. Fullback Ludovico Nitoglia rounded the defence to score the game’s  1st try after 15 miuntes which de Wall converted and 10 minutes later Tommaso Iannone hacked the ball ahead and scored a try when the majority of the Connacht team, and the Clan Terrace, thought the ball had gone into touch. Man of the Match Dave McSharry looked dangerous throughout the 1st half and got his reward on the halfhour mark, crossing for a well worked try after the Connacht forwards drove the Treviso defence back and set up a platform for the backs to work from. There were some fine performances across the Connacht team with the pack earning territory and possession through superb rucking and mauling whilst the backline challenged the Treviso defence with hard running and great attacking lines. 2 second half penalties from Niall O’Connor brought Connacht back to within a score of the visitors but it wasn’t to be and the final score ended Connacht 13 Treviso 15
Connacht:
Gavin Duffy, Mark McCrea, Kyle Tonetti, Dave McSharry, Tiernan O’Halloran, Niall O’Connor, Frank Murphy, Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney, Michael Swift, George Naoupu, Dave Gannon, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa
Replacements:
Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Mick Kearney, Eoghan Grace, Paul O’Donohoe, Matthew Jarvis, Fetu’u Vainikolo

Treviso:
L Nitoglia, T Iannone, E Galon, A Pratichetti, B Williams, W De Waal, f Semenzato, M Rizzo, F Sbaraglini, I Fernandez-Rouyet, F Minto, B Vermaak, M Vosawai, P Derbyshire, M Filippucci
Replacements:
D Vidal, M Muccignat, L Cittadini, C Van Zyl, V Bernabo, G Padro, E Gori, K Burton

Pictures: (Above Left) John Muldoon breaks through the Treviso line, (Above) Dave McSharry scores his 1st Connacht try, (Above) Ray Ofisa earning his 100th cap for Connacht. All Pics (C) www.INPHO.ie - James Crombie & Cathal Noonan

Connacht Rugby have announced the starting XV that will face Benetton Treviso on Friday night at the Sportsground.

Head Coach Eric Elwood has opted for a side that blends an experienced pack with an exciting and dynamic backline. In total there are7 changes in the starting lineup that faced the Ospreys last week.

Ethienne Reynecke and Ronan Loughney have been called into the frontrow, they join Brett Wilkinson after making their mark against Toulouse a fortnight ago.  

A powerful secondrow combination of Michael Swift and George Naoupu backs them up while Dave Gannon, John Muldoon and Ray Ofisa, who earns his 100th cap for Connacht, complete the backline.

Frank Murphy and Niall O'Connor make for a changed midfield. The halfback pairing last played together in Connacht's narrow defeat to the Cardiff Blues in October at the Sportsground.  

Centre sensation Dave McSharry moves back to 12 while Connacht's latest signing, Kyle Tonetti, gets his first taste of senior action at outside centre, the 24 year old flyer joined Connacht from Sale Sharks earlier this year.

Mark McCrea earns a start on the right wing, the former Ireland U19 winger scored the match-winning try against Dragons earlier this season. He is joined by Tiernan O'Halloran on the left wing and captain Gavin Duffy in the backline.

Connacht team to face Benetton Treviso (The Sportsground, Friday 2nd December, kick-off 19.30)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Mark McCrea

13 Kyle Tonetti

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O'Halloran

10 Niall O'Connor

09 Frank Murphy

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Ronan Loughney

04 Michael Swift

05 George Naoupu

06 Dave Gannon

07 John Muldoon

08 Ray Ofisa

16 Adrian Flavin

17 Dennis Buckley

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Mick Kearney

20 Eoghan Grace

21 Paul O'Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Fetu'u Vainikolo

Matthews retires from Connacht Rugby

One of Connacht’s longest serving players, Keith Matthews, has been forced to retire due to injury. The 29 year old centre ruptured his Achilles during the captains run before Connacht’s clash against the Cardiff Blues in April, just 13 days after earning his 100^th cap for the Province.

“I had never really thought I’d be a professional rugby player, I went through schools and didn’t make the Munster Schools team so never really thought of it as a career. It wasn’t until I was in 1^st year college in UL studying Computer Engineering that I made the Irish U19’s and pushed on from there, playing with Munster’s U21’s for 2 years and with Ireland U21 in my final year of college. After that I was in the Irish Academy and it was then that I started thinking there might be a future in it and I got a development contract with Munster.”

“When I finished college Brads (Michael Bradley) offered me a spot in Connacht and I jumped at the opportunity to play regularly. When I first came to Connacht there were only a couple of guys that are still involved here now such as John Muldoon and Michael Swift.”

“Connacht have come on leaps and bounds in the last 7 seasons, it’s brilliant to see, all the facilities are second to none and to have everything on one site is great. There’s been loads of memorable momentsdown through the years but beating Munster here in the Sportsground in ‘07 stands out as one of the best. Captaining Connacht last Christmas was another huge honour for me, the fact that it was against Munster made it even better.”

“I’m going to keep my options open at the moment, I’ve a couple of months to decide where to go next and what to do, I’ve got my Computer Engineering degree from the University of Limerick behind me and I’ve got my QFA (Qualified Financial Advisor) exams now as well so that’s a route I may take. I’m also looking into going back to college next year, maybe to do a post-grad in Chartered Accountancy so we’ll see what happens.”

“The family are living here with me and though we’ve always planned to move back to Limerick at some stage I don’t think we’re ready to leave Galway just yet. We’ve been living here for 7 years and it’s a great city, great people. I would definitely consider myself a Connacht-man now, so even if we do move I’ll always support Connacht.”

“I’ve always enjoyed coaching as well so no matter what I do I’m sure I’ll end up coaching at some level. I have completed the level 2 Assistant course have been involved with Monivea for the last couple of years, we won the Connacht Junior league the year before last and were beaten by Crosshaven in the All Ireland Junior Cup last year so even though I’ve taken a step back since my injury I still follow them very closely

“It’s heartbreaking being told your rugby career is over but I’ve had a little bit of time to get my head around it and though it’s a bit daunting thinking of a life without rugby in it as one chapter closes another opens so I’ll keep myself busy and just get on with it

It’ll be hard not playing anymore, standing in the terraces watching the guys play against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup and knowing I’ll never hear the roar of the crowd after a good break or a good tackle. That was one of things that really hit home and that was pretty tough but I have no regrets at all. I like to think that every time I pulled on the green jersey I gave it my best, yeah I made mistakes, I’m only human but I always gave it 100%.”

“ I’m delighted to have reached 100 caps for the Province, it’s a big milestone and it’s great to know I’m up there on the 100 Wall, it’s something I’m very proud of. I’ve had 7 great seasons with the club and enjoyed every single one of them and I would like to say a huge thank you to all the players, coaches, staff and medical personnel who I’ve worked with over the years, especially the physio’s who’ve helped me in the last 7 months. I’d also like to thank all the Connacht fans and supporters for all the great memories.

Keith Matthews factfile:

• Made his Ireland ‘A’ debut v England Saxons 21/6/09
• 7 Caps for Ireland ‘A’/Wolfhounds
• Won Churchill Cup in 2009
• Connacht Debut v Cardiff 13-9 win Sept 2005
• Won 100^th Connacht cap v Edinburgh 1/4/11
• Set up John Muldoon's winning try v Bourgoin in Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Final 2009/10

Pictures: (Top Right) Keith Matthews in action against Edinburgh in April, (Top Left) Tackling Chris Cusiter of the Broder Reivers in his 2nd game for Connacht, (Above Right) Keith Matthews & Adrian Flavin earned their 100th caps for Connacht on the same night against Edinburgh, (Above) Keith Matthews celbrates with John Muldoon after winn ing the Amlin Challenge Cup Quartwer Final against Bougoin in April 2010, Matthews had set up Muldoon for the match winning try. All pics (C) www.inpho.ie