It wasn’t the prettiest game of rugby in Irish history, but it was damn entertaining to watch.
There was so little between the teams at stages of tonight’s All-Ireland affair at the RDS that it was almost unfair that one would be declared a loser.
Leinster led by two points at the break after Shane Jennings opened the scoring before Jimmy Goperth added three from a penalty.
The second half was just as low-scoring but, similarly, just as enthralling for us viewers.
Connacht must have thought they had sealed a bonus point when George Naoupu went over after 74 minutes to make it 14-11 but Zane Kirchner had different ideas after he took advantage of an overly ambitious attempt by Matt Healy to keep the ball in play from a Gopperth kick to touch.
One lapse in judgement made all the difference as it put Matt O’Connor’s men into an unassailable lead with just moments remaining on the clock and they held out to take the victory 21-11.
