PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE: IRELAND A's Ian Keatley made an impressive debut for Connacht on Saturday in their pre-season challenge against NEC Harlequins at the Galway Sportsground.
The 21-year-old former Clontarf RFC outhalf, partnering another new recruit, scrumhalf Frank Murphy, notched 14 of Connacht's tally in the 24-8 win over the English premiership side, including two second-half drop-goals.
Keatley had opened Connacht's account with a ninth-minute penalty, but it was the visitors, shorn of several front-line players on duty at the Middlesex Sevens, who took a half-time lead through a Tom Williams try and a penalty from the boot of Nick Evans.
Connacht were better able to utilise the wind in the second half, however, and they took the lead after Murphy set up Keith Matthews for a try, with Keatley, having already landed an early second-half penalty, adding the extras.
He then kept Connacht in front with two drop goals, before flanker and new Connacht captain John Muldoon crowned a fine Connacht performance with a 78th-minute try.
Coach Michael Bradley acknowledged Keatley's contribution.
"It was a good start," said Bradley. "He's a confident young man and it's important players like him get game time. He put himself into position where he is competing for the number 10 jersey.
"He was on the Ireland under-20 Grand Slam-winning team and has made appearances in the Churchill Cup in the past two years and it is important he gets game time."
Bradley had other reasons for satisfaction.
"It was a good performance from the team all round, and the collision area, which is always key, was good last week against Leeds and it improved again this week.
"The new guys coming in have to put pressure on the guys in the slots. Liam Bibo has put two solid performances together, which is good to see.
"Frank Murphy and Seán Cronin came in and put in good performances."
SCORERS: Connacht: Tries - Matthews, Muldoon; Pens - Keatley (2); Con - Keatley; Drop goals - Keatley (2). Harlequins: Try - T Williams; Pen - Evans.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; L Bibo, M Deane, K Matthews, J Hearty; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley; J Muldoon, J OConnor, C Rigney.
Replacements: M McCarthy for Swift (63 mins); A Browne for Rigney (70 mins); A Dunne for Keatley, T Nathan for Matthews, A Wynne for Deane (all 75 mins); C Muldoon, A Flavin, R Loughney, J Lyne, B McGovern, K Campbell.
HARLEQUINS: T Williams; C Amesbury, D W Barry, J Turner-Hall, S Stegman; N Evans, D Care; C Jones, T Fuga, J Brooks; J Percival, J Evans; P Davies, N McMillan, C York.
Replacements: O Kohn for Percival, S O'Connor for Evans, A Croall for Brooks, M Lambert for Jones (all half-time); G Robson, G Williams for Turner-Hall, G Lowe for Care (both 57 mins); S Smith for Evans (70 mins); T Sargeant for McMillan (78 mins).
Referee: J Lacey.
