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Last Updated: Saturday, 31 December 2005, 15:41 GMT

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Connacht 22-12 Ulster

John Fogarty of Connacht is tackled by Ulster's Andrew Trimble and Justin Harrison

Connacht (7) 22
Tries: Lacey, Slemen, McPhillips
Cons: Slemen (2)
Pens: Slemen

Ulster (12) 12
Pens: Humphreys (4)

Connacht scored three tries as they dented Ulster's Celtic League hopes with a shock victory in Galway.

With the advantage of the wind, Ulster led 12-7 at half-time with four David Humphreys penalties to a Matt Lacey try which David Slemen converted.

Slemen and Conor McPhillips added tries for Connacht in the second half, with Slemen contributing another conversion.

The fly-half kicked another penalty to bring his tally to 12 points as Ulster failed to score after the interval.

Humphreys opened the scoring with a penalty after just two minutes and followed that up with a fine effort from 45 metres, as his side dominated the early part of the game territorially.

Lacey's converted try offered Michael Bradley's side hope but two further penalties from the boot of Humphreys ensured Ulster's half-time lead.

Connacht dominated the second half and ran out worthy winners.

Ulster coach Mark McCall:
"Overall, it was a very disappointing display and quite simply, we did not play well enough.

"We wanted to get back to winning ways in this game but it didn't happen.

"We have lost a few games but we haven't become a bad team overnight, though we played poorly today. There are 10 games left and a lot of points to play for."

Connacht: M Mostyn, T Robinson, J Hearty, K Matthews, C McPhillips, D Slemen, C Keane, R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop, C Short, A Farley (capt), J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney.
Replacements: J Merrigan, A Clarke, M Swift for Farley 55, B O'Connor for Lacey 74, T Tierney, P Warwick, A Mailei for Robinson 76.

Ulster: B Cunningham, T Bowe, K Maggs, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, D Humphreys, K Campbell, J Fitzpatrick, R Best, S Best, J Harrison, R Frost, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson.
Replacements: N Brady, B Young for Fitzpatrick 55, R Caldwell for Frost 70, S Ferris for McMillan 74, I Boss for Campbell 50, A Larkin, J Topping for Maggs 65.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Attendance: 2,100

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