Leinster (14) 26
Tries: Hogan, Kearney, Fitzgerald Con: Contepomi Pens: Contepomi 3

Connacht (12) 18
Pens: Keatley 6

Leinster's Cameron Jowitt is tackled by John Lyne at the RDS Showgrounds

Leinster survived a stern test to defeat Irish provincial rivals Connacht in Friday's Magners League game at the RDS Showgrounds.

Leinster led 14-12 at half-time thanks to a Trevor Hogan try and three Felipe Contepomi penalties to four Ian Keatley penalties for the visitors.

Keatley added two more penalties after the break to put Connacht 18-14 ahead.

Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald scored two tries and Contepomi a conversion to give the reigning champions victory.

Hogan crossed the Connacht line after just four minutes but Contepomi was just off-target with the conversion attempt.

Keatley kicked a penalty and Contepomi replied, before Keatley landed two further penalties to bring Connacht to within one point.

The pair traded further penalties before John Lyne was yellow-carded on the half hour.

Contepomi was successful with another penalty but Keatley failed with another attempt before the interval.

The Connacht fly-half was on target with two penalties but Kearney put Leinster back in front with a 68th-minute touchdown which Contepomi failed to convert.

Kearney's Irish international colleague Fitzgerald was next to cross the line and this time Contepomi slotted the conversion between the posts.

Leinster: Kearney, D'Arcy, Fitzgerald, Contepomi, S. Keogh, Nacewa, Whitaker, McCormack, Fogarty, Wright, Hogan, Jowitt, Elsom, Jennings, S. Keogh.
Replacements: Horgan for Kearney (70), O'Driscoll for S. Keogh (53), Keane for Whitaker (79), Healy for McCormack (51), O'Kelly for Hogan (50).

Not Used: Blaney, O'Brien.

Connacht: Carr, Nathan, Ta'auso, Deane, Bibo, Keatley, Murphy, Lyne, Flavin, Morris, Swift, Farley, McCarthy, J. Muldoon, Rigney.
Replacements: Loughney for Lyne (54), Gannon for McCarthy (64).

Not Used: Browne, Campbell, Dunne, Hearty.

Att: 16,350

Ref: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).

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