Connacht 24 Queensland Reds 12CONNACHT COMPLETED their pre-season campaign with an impressive victory at the Sportsground last night.

And with Declan Kidney in attendance with assistants Less Kiss and Gert Smal, some of Ireland's emerging talent snapped up by Connacht during the summer picked a good time to impress.

Fullback Fionn Carr, outhalf Ian Keatley and hooker Seán Cronin stood out as Michael Bradley's men posted a fine win.

The visitors were disappointing but there was much to admire in Connacht's handling and passing in the opening half, Carr and winger Mike Roberts giving their back line some serious pace.

Roberts helped himself to two tries as Connacht ran the ball at will and led 24-0 at the break. Carr also touched down; he had the pace to go all the way after picking a spilled ball just in front of his own posts following a big hit by John Muldoon.

The Reds showed more adventure after the restart and scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin got in for a try seven minutes from time.

They crossed for a second in stoppage time from Leroy Houston after Connacht's Colm Rigney and Muldoon had been sinbinned.

CONNACHT:F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, M Roberts; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: J Hearty for Roberts (48 mins); R Loughney for Wilkinson (52 mins); M Swift for Farley (53 mins); J O'Connor for McCarthy (64 mins); F Murphy for Campbell, A Wynne for Bibo (both 67 mins).

QUEENSLAND REDS:R Davies; L Morahan, M Turinui, A Faingaa, A Toua; J Lance, B McKibbin; S Seimonek, J Hanson, J Kennedy; V Humphries, R Simmons; S Higginbotham, P Luafutu, L Houston. Replacements: A Byrnes for Simmons (29 mins); A Anae for Hanson, C Fetoai for Lance (both 52 mins); Lance for McKibbin (60 mins); J Schatz for Higginbotham, J Harvey for Morahan (62 mins); McKibbin for Lance (67 mins)

Referee:P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).