THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Sat 27 May 2006

Lineen slams player attitudes after tame loss
ALISDAIR HOGG AT THE GALWAY SPORTSGROUND
Connacht 33
Glasgow 7

GLASGOW were supposed to be restoring pride in the jersey and applying pressure to the Borders for the second Heineken Cup place in Galway last night but the performance was a thoroughly deflating experience.

The loyal and vocal fans who had travelled to the west of Ireland in hope instead got a flat, error strewn effort, and at no point did Glasgow ever look like winning.

The professional outfit finish the season bottom of the table after Connacht won with a try bonus point to overhaul them.

Head Coach Sean Lineen said: "Thank God the season's over, this was a very poor performance, they were far hungrier and I can't wait for next season to come."

He added: "The culture at Glasgow is appalling, it has been let go for far too long here. We were part of it too for the past few years, but now we need a change of personnel, a change of attitudes. We need more strength throughout the squad, and some of the players just aren't good enough.

"

Connacht opened the scoring on seven minutes with a straightforward try by flanker Matt Lacey after former Ireland wing Matt Mostyn had managed to hold off a weak attempted tackle by Glasgow's Hefin O'Hare.

Worse was to follow for the visitors on 14 minutes when Connacht turned down the chance for a kickable penalty, and opted for the kick to the corner. From this line out Connacht mauled the ball, pushing the Glasgow pack back with ease to allow hooker John Fogaty to touch down for a try which fly-half Mark McHugh converted.

Glasgow should have had a try of their own after a promising break down the left touchline. John Beattie had two unmarked men outside him but instead he chose not to pass and was tackled.

Connacht were clearly the hungrier team, even though they are out of the Heineken Cup qualification race. Ireland A scrum half Chris Keane added a third before half time, bursting through a lineout to race home from 25 metres out to make it 19-0 at the interval.

Glasgow started the second half under pressure but they managed to score the try of the game. Jon Petrie picked up a ball that was unattended from the base of a Connacht ruck, charged down the pitch and fed to Donnie MacFayden. Rory Lamont made further inroads, allowing Sam Pinder to sprint clear from the half way line to touch down under the posts for Colin Gregor to convert.

Connacht added further scores through lock David Gannon and replacement full back David Slemen.

Scorers: Connacht: Tries: Lacey, Fogarty, Keane, Gannon, Slemen Cons McHugh 4. Glasgow: Tries: Pinder; Con: Gregor.

Connacht: M Mostyn; C McPhilips, J Hearty, G Williams, D Yapp; M McHugh, C Keane; R hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley(C), J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Subs Used: Swift, Clarke. Tierney, McGowan. Slemen, Robinson, Merrigan

Glasgow: G Staniforth; S Davey, H O'Hare, G Morrison, R Lamont; C Gregor, S Pinder; S Corsar, F Thomson, K Tkachuk, J Eadie, D Turner, j Petrie, D Macfadyen, J Beattie. Subs Used: Milligan, Lawson, Hamilton, Barclay, Kennedy, Parks, Wilson.

Referee: N Owens (Wales). Attendance: 2,200.

This article was originally posted on 27-May-2006, 07:22 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-May-2006, 07:29.