The Connacht Team That Beat A Powerful Leinster Side In The 2016 PRO12 Final

The Connacht Team That Beat A Powerful Leinster Side In The 2016 PRO12 Final

Five years ago today, Connacht claimed their first Pro12 title at Murrayfield.

 

The side coached by Pat Lam scored three tries through Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy.

 

Leinster failed to rise to the occasion despite their star-studded team with Leo Cullen's side managing just 10 points through a Jonny Sexton penalty and a late Sean Cronin try.


 

 


Connacht topped the league table in the regular season but were given little chance to overthrow the men in blue in the showpiece event.

Connacht full-back Tiernan O'Halloran got the opening try in the 13th minute, running it over in the left corner after Matt Healy had broken through the defence. MacGinty converted to put Connacht in a 7–0 lead.

Leinster were forced into an early change when Mick Kearney was removed from play with a head injury, with Leinster already without the services of Devin Toner for the final, to be replaced by Hayden Triggs.

Speedster Niyi Adeolokun scored Connacht's second try midway through the half after his own high kick and chase to go over in the right corner, giving Connacht a 12–0 lead.

MacGinty kicked a penalty on 27 minutes to give Connacht a 15–0 lead which they took into the interval.

While Jonathan Sexton cut the deficit with a penalty early in the second half. MacGinty had an opportunity to respond with his own penalty minutes later but dropped his effort short.

Matt Healy's try just before the hour stretched the lead out to 17 after a nice kick from MacGinty as Connacht lead by 17. 

That was cut to ten when Sean Cronin went over to set up a huge last ten minutes but there was to be no comeback as Connacht produced one final effort to see it out.

The win was the first major trophy for Connacht in their 131-year history 



Leinster:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Dave Kearney
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Eoin Reddan

1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Mike Ross
4. Ross Molony
5. Mick Kearney
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip (captain)

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Zane Kirchner

Connacht:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Ronan Loughney
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Andrew Browne
20. Sean O’Brien
21. John Cooney
22. Shane O’Leary
23. Peter Robb

 

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