MAGNERS LEAGUE Dragons 11 Connacht 13JOHNNY O'CONNOR scored an injury-time try to hand Connacht an unlikely win over Newport Gwent Dragons last night and move a step closer to Heineken European Cup rugby.
The Ireland flanker scrambled over in the 82nd minute to level the scores before replacement Andrew Dunne booted the winning conversion.
It was a stunning sucker punch that even Joe Calzaghe would be proud of in Las Vegas tonight after Connacht spent the second half against the ropes.
And the Galway-based outfit are now level with Ulster on 20 pointseach in the race for Ireland's third European Cup spot and a first appearance in Europe's premier cup competition.
It was seven years since Connacht had last won at Newport and that run looked set to carry on for another year as they trailed 11-6 as the match clock ticked past the end of normal time.
But Dunne set up one last-ditch attacking lineout with a pin-point penalty kick upfield from which O'Connor squeezed in.
Connacht were already facing an uphill battle from the foot of the Magners League before gifting the Dragons early scores.
Hooker Adrian Flavin made a hash of the lineout. His throw soared over skipper Andrew Flavin and into the hands of Michael Owen for an easy score on 19 minutes.
But Kiwi outhalf Troy Nathan inspired a fightback with two penalties in his first start for Connacht after a shock promotion from Division Three side Connemara All Blacks.
Ceri Sweeney, another forgotten man of the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam, booted six points for an 11-6 lead at half-time and went close three times as the Dragons stepped up a gear after the break.
Connacht were reduced to uncontested scrums as their shocking injury list grew by the minute yet, by hook and by crook, their defence held, just.
They survived a strong shout from the Dragons forwards for a try when Scottish referee Neil Paterson ruled out a second effort by Owen while Connor McPhillips weighed in with two try-saving tackles to keep Connacht in touch until the final minutes and that dramatic winner.
DRAGONS: M Thomas; Wyatt, Emerick, Gomer-Davies, Mustoe; Sweeney, A Williams; Black, S Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, Charteris, Charvis, Owen, Bearman. Replacements: Morgan for M Thomas (69 mins), W Evans for A Williams (16mins), Ringer for Charvis (69 mins).
CONNACHT: G Duffy; M Mostyn, M Deane, K Matthews, D Riordan; T Nathan, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, C Rigney, J O'Connor. Replacements: D Yapp for Deane (30 mins), A Dunne for Nathan (63 mins).
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRFU).
