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Munster 17–15 Connacht – O’Donoghue double keeps Munster perfect as missed kicks and Ralston injury hurt Connacht

JoeNa Connacht — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:37:33 +0000

Munster 17–15 Connacht: O’Donoghue Double Keeps Munster Unbeaten as Missed Kicks and Ralston Injury Haunt Connacht

URC Round 5 | Thomond Park | 25 October 2025

Munster finished the opening block of the BKT URC season unbeaten after edging Connacht 17–15 in a bruising interprovincial decided, yet again, by the narrowest of margins.

For the second straight week, Connacht’s goal-kicking proved their undoing. Three tries on the board but no conversions left them two points short — following last week’s one-point defeat after another missed kick.

Grit Over Glamour

It was not a night for highlight reels but rather for grit, patience, and sheer will. Captain Jack O’Donoghue embodied all three, powering over for two tries — including the match-winner — to secure Munster’s fifth straight victory and send them into the international break joint-top of the table with the Stormers.

Connacht’s Byron Ralston crossed twice while skipper Paul Boyle crashed over before half-time, yet without accuracy from the tee they could not translate effort into points.

First-Half Fireworks

Connacht started brightly, enjoying long spells of early possession and forcing Munster to defend for over twenty phases. The hosts survived that onslaught and counter-attacked decisively. When Josh Ioane failed to find touch, Munster countered through Shane Daly and Diarmuid Kilgallen before Dan Kelly burst the defensive line and put O’Donoghue away for the opening try.

Five minutes later, Ioane atoned for his error with a sublime offload to Ralston, who scored to level the contest. Connacht stayed on the front foot and soon added another, Ioane again central with a perfectly timed skip-pass that allowed Ralston to complete his brace.

Momentum then flipped in an instant. Reading Ioane’s next pass, Diarmuid Kilgallen intercepted and sprinted the length of Thomond Park to touch down under the posts on his return from injury. JJ Hanrahan added the extras for a 12–10 lead.

But Connacht finished the half stronger. A maul try awarded to Paul Boyle, confirmed by the TMO, nudged them ahead 15–12 at the interval — all three tries unconverted but enough to keep the visitors in front.

Second-Half Arm-Wrestle

The second half was defined by stoppages and collisions. Connacht lost Byron Ralston to what looked like a serious knee injury shortly after the restart — one of seven players withdrawn in a bruising encounter — while Munster dominated territory and possession (69% possession, 83% territory in the second half).

Still, the breakthrough refused to come until the 67th minute. After a series of short carries from the pack, replacement prop Ronan Foxe drove close and fed O’Donoghue, who powered over for his second try. Replacement Tony Butler narrowly missed the conversion, leaving Munster 17–15 ahead.

Connacht pressed late on but handling errors and Munster’s suffocating defence — led by Gavin Coombes (20 carries, 18 tackles) and Jean Kleyn (13 tackles) — ensured the home side closed out yet another nail-biter.

Match Stats

Metric	Munster	Connacht
Possession	56%	44%
Territory	66%	34%
Metres Gained	526 m	252 m
Defenders Beaten	31	11
Clean Breaks	5	2
Gain-Line Carries	99	57
Passes Completed	236	161
Offloads	9	2
Turnovers Won	4	3
Kicks from Hand	33	32
Rucks Won	138	96

Top Performers
Alex Nankivell – 47 m, 15 carries, 12 passes
Jack O’Donoghue – 2 tries, 23 m, 8 carries, 10 tackles
Diarmuid Kilgallen – 107 m, 4 defenders beaten, 2 offloads
Gavin Coombes – 61 m, 20 carries, 18 tackles
Jean Kleyn – 13 carries, 13 tackles
Paul Boyle (C) – 1 try, 20 tackles, 8 carries

Scorers

Munster: Tries – Jack O’Donoghue (2), Diarmuid Kilgallen | Conversion – JJ Hanrahan (1)
Connacht: Tries – Byron Ralston (2), Paul Boyle | Conversions – None

Line-Ups

Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Lee Barron, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhan Quinn, Jake O’Riordan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.

Connacht: Harry West; Byron Ralston, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle (C), Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, Niall Murray, David O’Connor, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Seán O’Brien.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Aftermath

Munster remain joint-top of the URC on 23 points, unbeaten across their first five games. Connacht, now 12th, are left frustrated after consecutive narrow losses decided by missed kicks.

They will hope for reinforcements when the league resumes. Byron Ralston’s knee injury looked serious and could sideline him for several weeks, but Connacht are expected to welcome new signing Sam Gilbert from the Highlanders by the time they face the Sharks at home on 29 November. Gilbert, who can play full-back or centre, is also a proven goal-kicker and should take over kicking duties as Stuart Lancaster’s side look to steady their season.

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Final Thoughts on Connacht’s 2024/25 Season – and Looking Ahead

JoeNa Connacht — Tue, 20 May 2025 07:11:47 +0000

Final Thoughts on Connacht’s 2024/25 Season – and Looking Ahead

There’s a lot changing at Connacht — and not all of it is on the pitch. The brand-new, world-class stand at the Sportsground is a genuine game-changer, a sign that the province is thinking bigger and building for the long term. There’s also a fresh coaching ticket incoming, a new General Manager of Performance behind the scenes, and a wave of exciting young talent rising through the ranks.

On the field, though, 2024/25 was a tough watch at times.

Losing all six interpros — including a gut-wrenching home defeat to Ulster — was hard to swallow, and the season never quite found consistency. Realistically, our only win over a full-strength side came in the Challenge Cup last 16 against Cardiff. The league form was patchy at best, and we struggled to put points on the board against stronger sides.

Connacht averaged 23 points per game, placing around 11th in the URC for scoring. Defensively, we leaked an average of 25 — likely the third worst in the competition. That combination left us on the wrong side of too many scorelines.

Worryingly, the Sportsground was no fortress. Just four home wins from nine (against Sharks, Cardiff, Benetton and Dragons), while the only away victories came against Zebre and Scarlets. Six wins from 18 in the URC doesn’t meet the standard this squad should be aiming for.

But not everything was bleak.

The Challenge Cup run was a real highlight. Five wins and a thrilling, high-scoring battle with Racing at home showed what this team is capable of. It wasn’t just the results — it was the way Connacht played in that competition: ambitious, energised, and entertaining.

There were also individual standouts. Ben Murphy was a revelation. Sean Jansen and Paul Boyle brought consistent power. Peter Dooley anchored the scrum. Shayne Bolton keeps going from strength to strength, while Finn Tracey made a strong impression. And then there’s SHL — a real leader, and arguably the standout player of the season. Coming back from injury inside five weeks was a testament to his character.

Looking ahead, recruitment has been low-key — with only Sam Gilbert arriving so far — and finances remain tight. That’s likely why Rob Seib, originally set for a backs coach role, is now the favourite to take the head coach position too. There were whispers of interest from Dan McFarland and Stuart Lancaster, but nothing materialised. If Seib does step up, a top-class defence coach beside him will be vital.

The bones of a strong season are there. With a new stand, new structures, new energy — and a core of talented, committed players — there’s reason to believe. A top-eight URC finish and a Challenge Cup semi-final run are realistic targets if things click.

There’s work to do, but the future isn’t bleak — it’s just waiting to be built. Roll on 2025/26.

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Match Report: Bristol Bears 38-35 Connacht Rugby – Mack is back

JoeNa Connacht — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:02:55 +0000

Connacht concluded their preseason campaign with a thrilling, high-scoring 38-35 defeat against Bristol Bears, setting the stage for their opening clash in the 2024/25 URC season against Munster next weekend.

The encounter was a showcase of end-to-end rugby, with both teams exchanging blows throughout. Bristol’s clinical attack saw them secure a hard-fought win, but Connacht demonstrated immense resilience, keeping the contest alive until the dying moments. The second half wasn’t as intense due to all the substitutions.

First Half: Electric Start, Momentum Shifts

Bristol wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with James Williams crossing for an early try just two minutes in, converted by AJ MacGinty. Connacht responded swiftly with Andrew Smith charging over the whitewash in the 5th minute, with Josh Ioane adding the extras to level the game. Smith, a standout performer for Connacht, added his second try in the 21st minute, showcasing his blistering pace and eye for the try line.

Bristol’s Harry Randall was instrumental in the first half, punishing Connacht with a sharp interception and a cheeky dummy to bag two tries in quick succession (18’ and 27’). Ioane, however, kept Connacht in touch with a flawless kicking display, converting all of Connacht’s first-half tries, including a late try from Niall Murray after a period of sustained pressure.

At halftime, the scoreboard read **Bristol Bears 24-21 Connacht**, with both teams evenly matched in what was shaping up to be a high-scoring affair.

Second Half: Substitutions and Drama

The second half began with both teams rotating their lineups, bringing on fresh legs and nearly fielding completely different sides. Bristol capitalised first as Benhard Janse van Rensburg sliced through Connacht’s defense to score their fifth try of the evening in the 51st minute, with MacGinty converting to extend their lead to 31-21.

"Pre-season has been brilliant and we've had four good wins. That was the toughest game so far and we're ready to go for @premrugby now."

Hear from DOR Pat Lam after today's pre-season victory over Connacht at the HPC pic.twitter.com/9x9Warzzpu

— Bristol Bears (@BristolBears) September 13, 2024

Connacht, undeterred, responded with Fiachna Barrett crashing over in the 68th minute following a long spell of pressure, narrowing the gap to just three points after Ioane added the conversion. Moments later, Connacht seized the lead for the first time in the match when another try scored by Paul Boyle was converted, taking them ahead 35-31 with just seven minutes remaining.

However, Bristol had the final say. Rich Lane darted over for a try in the 75th minute, and the successful conversion restored the Bears’ advantage at 38-35. Despite late efforts, Connacht couldn’t muster another score, and the match concluded with Bristol narrowly coming out on top.

Final Thoughts: Promising Signs for Connacht

Despite the loss, Connacht will take plenty of positives from the performance, particularly their fighting spirit and attacking prowess. Andrew Smith was electric, and Josh Ioane’s accuracy with the boot was flawless throughout. But most importantly it seen the comeback of Mack Hansen who had been out injured since January. With the URC season opener against Munster next weekend, Connacht will look to fine-tune their defense and build on the strong attacking foundations laid in this preseason encounter.

Match Scorers:

**Bristol Bears:**
– **James Williams** (Try, 2’)
– **Harry Randall** (Tries, 18’, 27’)
– **Harry Thacker** (Try, 33’)
– **Benhard Janse van Rensburg** (Try, 51’)
– **Rich Lane** (Try, 75’)
– **AJ MacGinty** (Conversions, 2’, 18’, 51’, )

**Connacht Rugby:**
– **Andrew Smith** (Tries, 5’, 21’)
– **Niall Murray** (Try, 36’)
– **Fiachna Barrett** (Try, 68’)
– ** Paul Boyle** (Try, 72)
– **Conversions** – Josh Ioane (5’, 21’, 36’, ?, ?

**Starting XV**
(15-9): Mack Hansen, Shane Jennings, Piers O’Conor, Hugh Gavin, Andrew Smith, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade
(1-8): Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Cian Prendergast (C)

**Replacements**:
Denis Buckley, Eoin de Buitlear, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Paul Boyle, Conor Oliver, Sean Jansen, Ben Murphy, Sean Naughton, David Hawkshaw, Byron Ralston, Finn Treacy

Connacht’s focus now shifts to the highly anticipated clash with Munster, as they kick off the new URC season next weekend.

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Connacht Star Paul Boyle Excited To Work Under New Coaches

JoeNa Connacht — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 13:47:29 +0000

Connacht back-rower Paul Boyle is looking forward to working under the new coaching ticket in the province for the upcoming season.

Colm ‘Cullie’ Tucker, Mossy Lawler and Dewald Senekal have joined Andy Friend’s backroom for the 2021/22 season while Peter Wilkins is now the side’s senior coach after previously holding the position of defence coach.

Boyle has previously worked with Cullie Tucker and Lawler during his time in the Connacht Academy and has worked with Wilkins in the last few years.

The 24-year-old is excited to work with the familiar faces again and is also eager to get a season under his belt alongside Senekal.

“I worked with Cullie and Mossy before in the Academy – I always enjoyed working with them,” Boyle said. “Pete in his new role is doing a really good job and then Dewald, he’s kind of laying down the law with the forwards, and I’m really enjoying working under him as well.

“Even during the international window when I hadn’t met him, he was texting me wishing me the best of luck – he’s a really nice guy.

“Then coaching-wise, like I said he kind of lays down the law. Really strict, but adds a bit of fun to it as well and he has some really cool ideas around how he wants our forward pack to play.”

Forwards coach Senekal joined the province after spells with Bayonne, Grenoble (joint-head coach) and Stade Francais in recent years.

Boyle also worked with another coaching ticket this summer – Andy Farrell’s Ireland team.

The former Landsdowne man was one of six Connacht players called up to the national squad and he got his first cap against the USA.

The Dubliner values the time he spent in the Irish camp and noted that it was an enjoyable, but intense experience.

“The three-week camp was really enjoyable, it was unbelievably intense. I learned a lot and since then I’ve just been trying to implement the things I’ve learned, whether it was work-ons or good things I need to improve as well.

“I’ve just been enjoying implementing those, I got some good feedback from coaches, learned a lot off other players I was in camp with and hopefully come game time I can implement some of the things I’ve been working on.

“It was something that I had been working towards but I suppose when the call comes it is always a surprise.

“It’s a lovely surprise but it’s something I’ve been working towards for the last number of years so I was delighted as well.”

The back-rowers focus for now, however, has returned to the Connacht setup ahead of the new season.

The Westerners start their season on Friday, September 24 with a journey to Cardiff Arms Park to take one the renamed Cardiff Rugby.

Boyle is hoping for more consistent performances throughout the season after a frustrating 2020/21 campaign.

“It’s just putting in an 80-minute performance. There’s been patches of games that have got away from us.

“Even if it’s only 10-15 minutes, it’s enough to let the game slip away so it’s not only about being consistent game-to-game, it’s being consistent for the full 80 minutes as well.

“It’s about putting the head down and working hard. We’ve had plenty of weeks now to prep, we’ve had our two games, so I think it would be silly to have any excuses come the first game.”

Connacht’s opening match of the inaugural United Rugby Championship season against Cardiff gets underway on Friday at 7:35 pm and will be shown live on TG4.

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