CHALLENGE CUP:CONNACHT COACH Michael Bradley believes that the sin-binning of flanker Johnny O'Connor was they key moment in his side's European Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat on Saturday.

Northampton Saints, struggling to live up to their favourites tag, were hanging on to a 15-13 lead after 63 minutes when O’Connor was penalised for killing the ball.

Stephen Myler landed the resultant penalty from distance and with Gavin Duffy becoming the third Connacht player to be binned – prop Brian McGovern was yellow-carded in the opening half within a minute of coming on – Saints cut loose to score four tries in the final 10 minutes.

“It required a huge effort to stay in the game as they were on top up front, but we were in with a great chance in the final quarter,” said Bradley.

“However, that opportunity faded when Johnny O’Connor was yellow-carded. It was, perhaps, the decisive moment in the game. They were two points ahead but increased that to five with the penalty and from there on it was slipping away from us.

“We needed to keep our composure when there were just a few points in it. We need to learn how to win games when the opportunity is there,” he added.

Connacht, who face Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday, seemed poised early in the second-half to repeat their famous 1997 win at Franklin’s Gardens.

Most of the opening half was played inside the Northampton half, yet the home side still led 9-6 at the break. Outhalf Myler, who kicked six penalties in all, landed three in the opening half from limited attacking opportunities.

“We were well in contention and to then go and get a try early in the second half gave us a great chance but we just did not take it,” added Bradley.

Indeed, the home following in the crowd of 9,119 was silenced when the excellent Gavin Duffy set up Ray Ofisa for the opening try of the game after 52 minutes.

Ian Keatley, who landed a penalty and a drop goal in the opening half, made no mistake with the conversion to push Connacht 13-12 in front.

They got a further boost when uncontested scrums were called for after McGovern, who had earlier replaced the injured Ronan Loughney, had to go off with an ankle ligament injury.

Myler eased Saints’ worries with another penalty but they looked rattled as Connacht geared up for another assault in the final quarter.

But Northampton used their numerical advantage and when Duffy was yellow-carded on 70 minutes, they cut loose with Irish international Neil Best getting their first try before Joe Ansbro, Bruce Reihana and Chris Mayor finished the job in the dying moments.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: B Foden; P Diggin, J Ansbro, J Downey, B Reihana; S Myler, L Dickson; S Tongauiha, D Hartley, E Murray, I Fernandez Lobbe, J Kruger, N Best, J Gray, R Wilson. Replacements: C Lawes for Lobbe (50 mins); M Easter for Murray (63 mins); A Dickens for Dickson (70 mins); B Sharman for Hartley (71 mins); C Mayor for Downey (71 mins); T Smith for Tongauiha (75 mins); B Everitt for Myler (76 mins).

CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Carr, K Mathews, N Ta’auso, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney, A Browne, A Farley, J Muldoon, J O’Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: T Nathan for Matthews (23 mins); B McGovern for Loughney (34 mins); M Swift for Ofisa (60 mins); C Rigney for McGovern (62 mins); A Flavin for Cronin (73 mins); C O’Loughlin for Murphy (76 mins); A Dunne for Ta’auso (76 mins).

Referee: R Poite (France).

Attendance: 9,119