A continuous downpour at Donnybrook failed to detract from what was an enjoyable contest and which saw the home side move a step closer to capturing this year's championship.

With eight new faces from last year in the Leinster side, they wasted little time with a try inside the first few minutes from Des Dillon setting them up for the rest of the game.

Dillon added his second on 10 minutes to establish an early cushion for Leinster.

Connacht's points all came in the first half from Brian Dillon (try), Alan King (penalty) and David Mescal (drop goal), leaving them 13 points in arrears at the break.

But the game finished as a contest shortly after the interval when Leinster centre Kieran Lewis ran in the second of two tries.

Scorers: Leinster 41: (D Dillon (2), K Lewis (2), D Blayney tries; D Campion 5 cons, 2 pens) Connacht 11: (B Dillon try, A King pen, D Mescal drop goal).

LEINSTER: F Baynes (Greystones); J Norton (UCD), K Lewis (Dublin University), S Moore (UCD), D Campion (St Mary's College); A Dunne (Old Belvedere), S Keogh (St Mary's College); N Fox, D Blayney (UCD), N Treston (Blackrock College), E Kean (St Mary's College), T Hogan (Dublin University) N Breslin (UCD), E Collins (UCD), D Dillon (UCD). REPLACEMENTS - C McPhillips (St Mary's College) for Keogh, D Rossi (Clontarf) for Norton, A O'Brien (UCD), J McEvoy (Blackrock College) for Blayney, I Wallace (Old Wesley) for Treston, A Kearney (UCD) for Breslin, J Aylward (Greystones) for Norton.

CONNACHT: G Brady (Ballina); B Dillon (Galwegians), M O'Boyle (UCG), A King (Dublin University), J Cleary (Corinthians); B Glynn (Corinthians), D Mescal (Corinthians); K Flanagan, K Rush (Ballina), D Lillis (Corinthians), P Callanan (UCD), A Maher (Dublin University), C Pratt (Old Wesley), J O'Connor (Corinthians), D Browne (Galwegians). REPLACEMENTS - N O'Brien (Monivea) for Brady, J P Walsh (Ballina) for Pratt, M Sheehan (Ballina) for Callanan, P Flanagan (Buccaneers) for Rush.

Referee: G Desmond (MRA)