Scrum-half Kieran Marmion marked his 56th successive appearance with the try that earned Connacht a surprise 10-9 victory over Leinster on Friday.

The Galway side had lost their last 11 all-Ireland clashes, but overturned a 9-3 half-time deficit to maintain their 100 per cent start to the GUINNESS PRO12 season and leave the champions dumbstruck.

Connacht made just one change to their starting XV, lock Aly Muldowney coming into the second row in place of Mick Kearney, while Leinster handed starts to Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock.

Home fans at the Sportsground saw their side start nervously and must have been fearing the worst.

Connacht’s continuous indiscipline in the opening 20 minutes was punished with Jimmy Gopperth kicking a penalty and Ian Madigan adding two more scores off the tee, though two further opportunities to extend the early lead beyond 9-0 fell by the wayside and would ultimately prove costly.

Jack Carty saw a penalty of his own sail wide of the posts, but Connacht finally got themselves on the board, this time Carty making no mistake.

Ill-discipline in the ruck saw John Muldoon spend 10 minutes in the sin bin and hearts were firmly in mouths when Madigan crossed the whitewash moments later, but a forward pass in the build up saw Connacht gain a reprieve.

The home side regrouped and made a fist of the contest in driving rain, holding their own at the set-piece, but trailed 9-3 at half-time.

Four minutes into the second half and Muldoon decided to kick for goal from a penalty awarded on the halfway line, but Darragh Leader’s attempt fell just short.

Muldoon’s brave call was a clear change in philosophy as Connacht looked to play on the front foot.

And they profited from a positive outlook on 55 minutes with a stunning try from Marmion, who side-stepped two tackles in midfield before going over. Carty converted to put the home side in front for the first time.

Shell-shocked Leinster regrouped and Eoin Reddan’s clever chip looked to put Rob Kearney through, though the bounce just evaded the Ireland international.

Leinster won both contests against Pat Lam’s side last year, but found Connacht a far tougher nut to crack and succumbed to their second defeat of the PRO12 season.

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