Leinster's Frawley strikes late to break Connacht hearts

Leinster left it late but edged a pulsating BKT URC derby against Connacht at the Sportsground.

It was Ciarán Frawley who scored a stunning try with the clock in overtime to silence a boisterous crowd, who had surely believed that a first home win over Leinster since 2018 was theirs as they led 22-19 in the last minute.

The sides traded blow for blow over the course of a rip-roaring 80 minutes at the freezing Galway venue.

Pete Wilkins' side, who had won three from three at home, led at the break thanks to David Hawkshaw’s try and a penalty from JJ Hanrahan, while Charles Ngatai opened Leinster's account.

They found their groove in the third quarter and tries from Jason Jenkins and Ronán Kelleher looked to be enough.

However, man of the match Caolin Blade and Diarmuid Kilgallen turned the tables with two excellent tries before Frawley, moved to full-back despite a star turn at out-half last week against Munster, landed the killer blow to extend Leinster’s winning run here to seven games.

They return to the top of the table, while Connacht sit in eighth.

Cathal Forde's strong running was asking questions of Leinster’s defence early on, while Darragh Murphy stole two lineout throws in the opening nine minutes, the second of which soon turned into the opening score of the match.

Hawkshaw, who had just replaced the injured Tiernan O’Halloran, barged up the middle and quick hands by Hansen set Byron Ralston free.

He made 30 yards before popping back to Hansen, who had Hawkshaw in support, and the centre outpaced Jason Jenkins to score in the corner in the ninth minute.

10' TRY! Connacht 5-0 Leinster
David Hawkshaw finishes off a sweeping Connacht attack to get the Sportsground rocking