1998–99 Connacht Rugby season

1998–99 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s)The Sportsground, Galway
CoachGlen Ross
Top scorerSimon Allnutt (88)
Most triesSimon Allnutt (4)
Russell Southam (4)
League(s)Challenge Cup (5th of 7)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (4th)
← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

The 1998-99 season was Connacht's fourth season under professionalism. New Zealander Glenn Ross was head coach,[1] appointed to replace Warren Gatland, who had been appointed head coach of the Ireland national team.[2] They competed in the Challenge Cup, finishing fifth in their pool, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing fourth. They hosted Morocco, defeating them 30-5.

Players selected

Connacht Rugby squad

Props

  • Martin Cahill (Buccaneers)
  • Michael Finlay (Galwegians)
  • John Maher (St Mary's)
  • Jimmy Screene (Buccaneers)

Hookers

  • Bernard Jackman (Clontarf)
  • Billy Mulcahy (Skerries)
  • Joe McVeigh (Buccaneers)

Locks

  • Jimmy Duffy (Galwegians)
  • Graham Heaslip (Galwegians)
  • Justin Cullen (unattached)

Back row

  • John Casserly (Galwegians)
  • Junior Charlie (Galwegians)
  • Neil Culliton (Buccaneers)
  • Ronnie Culliton (Wanderers)
  • Ian Dillon (Bohemians)
  • Barry Gavin (Galwegians)
  • Shane McEntee (Lansdowne)
  • Martyn Steffert (Buccaneers)


Scrum-halves

  • Conor McGuinness (St Mary's)
  • Diarmuid Reddan (Galwegians)
  • David Mescal (Ballina)

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

  • Nigel Carolan (Galwegians)
  • Alan Reddan (Galwegians)
  • Russell Southam (Buccaneers)

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
Munster 6 4 0 2 125 92 2 18 Champions; qualified for 1999–2000 Heineken Cup
Ulster 6 3 0 3 137 119 3 15 Qualified for 1999–2000 Heineken Cup
Leinster 6 3 0 3 135 136 2 14 Qualified for 1999–2000 Heineken Cup
Connacht 6 2 0 4 95 145 3 11 Qualified for 1999–2000 European Challenge Cup
15 August 1998 Connacht 13–18 Munster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Ruane
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood (2)
 Report[3] Try: Lacey
Keane
Con: Keane
Pen: Keane (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Justin Cullen, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Alan Reddan, 13. Mervyn Murphy, 14. Nigel Carolan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy 46'), John Maher (for Screene 68').

22 August 1998 Connacht 21-18 Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Duignan (2)
Murphy
Con: Elwood (3)
 Report[4][5] Try: Cunningham
Ward
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Justin Cullen, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. John Casserly, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nigel Carolan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacement: Ian Dillon (for Casserly 40')

28 August 1998 Leinster 29-24 Connacht Donnybrook Stadium  
Try: Dempsey
Costello
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan (5)
 Report[6] Try: Gavin
Murphy
Duignan
Screene
Con: Allnutt (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Justin Cullen, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Shane McEntee, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Russell Southam,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy 5'), Simon Allnutt (for Elwood 39'), John Maher (for Cahill 47'), Graham Heaslip (for Duffy 57'), David Mescal (for D. Reddan 62'), Nigel Carolan (for A. Reddan 79').

12 September 1998 Munster 21–7 Connacht Dooradoyle  
Try: Quinlan
Lacey
Con: Keane
Pen: Keane (3)
 Report[7] Try: Heaslip
Con: Allnutt
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Joe McVeigh, 3. Jimmy Screene,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Ian Dillon, 7. Junior Charlie, 8. Shane MCEntee,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Alan Reddan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for McVeigh 42'), Neil Culliton (for McEntee 79'), Diarmuid Reddan (for McGuinness 11-21)

3 October 1998 Connacht 24-23 Leinster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Mulcahy
A. Reddan
Allnutt
Con: Allnut (3)
Pen: Allnut
 Report[8] Try: Nowlan
Dempsey
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Russell Southam,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Michael Finlay (for Screene 5-8', 10-14'), Ian Dillon (for McEntee 43'), Nigel Carolan (for Southam 50')

23 October 1998 Ulster 36-6 Connacht Ravenhill  
Try: Ward
McKinty
Topping
Clarke
Mason
Con: Mason (4)
Pen: Mason
 Report[9] Pen: Allnutt (2)
 Referee: David McHugh
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nigel Carolan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: John Maher (for Cahill 45'), John Casserly (for Charlie 67'), Neil Culliton (for Dillon 77').

European Challenge Cup

Main article: 1998–99 European Challenge Cup

Pool 1

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Narbonne 6 6 0 0 32 13 +19 228 98 +130 12
Caerphilly 6 4 0 2 16 19 −3 167 154 +13 8
Périgueux 6 3 0 3 23 13 +10 168 119 +49 6
Racing Club de France 6 3 0 3 17 23 −6 127 184 −57 6
Connacht 6 3 0 3 16 19 −3 129 156 −27 6
Newport 6 1 0 5 14 23 −9 123 183 −60 2
Rugby Rovigo 6 1 0 5 12 20 −8 108 156 −48 2
26 September 1998 Newport 12–31 Connacht Rodney Parade  
14:30 Pen: Connor (4)
 Report[10] Try: Dillon
Mulcahy
Allnutt
Heaslip
Southam
Con: Allnutt (3)
 Attendance: 655
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Russell Southam,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Owen Cobbe, Joe McVeigh, Martin Cahill.

7 October 1998 Connacht 29–28 Périgueux The Sports Ground  
14:30 Try: Duffy
Carolan
Ruane
Con: Allnutt
Pen: Allnutt (4)
 Report[11] Try: Cheyrou
Blondy
Nelson
Miquel
Con: Doussy (3)
Miquel
 Attendance: 1,000
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Alan Reddan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Shane McEntee, Joe McVeigh, John Maher.

11 October 1998 Rugby Rovigo 20–21 Connacht Stadio Mario Battaglini  
15:30 Try: Golfetti
Gross
Con: Scanavacca (2)
Pen: Scanavacca (2)
 Report[12] Try: Allnutt (2)
Con: Allnutt
Pen: Allnutt (3)
 Attendance: 1,200
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Alan Reddan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Joe McVeigh, John Maher.

17 October 1998 Connacht 26–38 Narbonne The Sports Ground  
14:30 Try: McEntee
Maher
Screene
Con: Cobbe
Pen: Allnutt (2)
Cobbe
 Report[13] Try: Schisano
Plataret
Calvel
Raynaud
Tanir
Stoica
Con: Valls (4)
 Attendance: 2,500
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Simon Allnutt,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Russell Southam,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Owen Cobbe, John Maher.

31 October 1998 Caerphilly 39–8 Connacht Virginia Park  
14:30 Try: Marshall
Bidgood
Davey
John
Con: Davey (4)
Pen: Davey (2)
 Report[14] Try: Carolan
Pen: Elwood
 Attendance: 600
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Jimmy Screene,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Alan Reddan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: John Casserly, Joe McVeigh, Ian Dillon, Martin Cahill.

7 November 1998 Connacht 14–19 Racing Club de France The Sports Ground  
14:30 Try: A. Reddan
Screene
Con: Elwood (2)
 Report[15] Try: Chevallier
Goirand
Terryn
Con: Bentayou (2)
 Attendance: 500
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Jimmy Screene,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. John Casserly, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Martyn Steffert,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Alan Reddan,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman, Martin Cahill, Ronnie Culliton.

Representative

7 August 1998 Connacht 30-5 Morocco The Sportsground, Galway  
18:30 Try: Southam (3)
Mescal
Con: Cobbe (2)
Pen: Cobbe (2)
 Report[16] Try: El Oula
Connacht lineup:

1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Jimmy Duffy, 5. Graham Heaslip,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Shane McEntee,
9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Owen Cobbe,
11. Alan Reddan, 12. Mervyn Murphy (c), 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nigel Carolan,
15. Russell Southam.
Replacements: Billy Mulcahy (for Jackman 44'), John Maher (for Cahill 47'), David Mescal (for D. Reddan 49'), Willie Ruane (for Carolan 63'), John Casserly (for Duffy 65'), Allnutt (for Cobbe 52-58').

Friendly

4 September 1998 Gasgow Caledonians 28-13 Connacht Stirling  
Try: Craig
Stark
Simpson
Con: Hayes (2)
Pen: Hayes (3)
 Report[17] Try: Carolan
Con: Cobbe
Pen: Cobbe (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Joe McVeigh, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Jimmy Duffy,
6. John Casserly, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Ian Dillon,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Owen Cobbe,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Russell Southam,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Diarmuid Reddan (for McGuinness 34'), Simon Allnutt (for Cobbe 40'), Neil Culliton (for McEntee 48'), Alan Reddan (for Southam 54'), Jimmy Screene (for Finlay 60')

References

  1. ^ John Fallon, "New Zealand influence will continue as Ross succeeds Gatland as Connacht coach", City Tribune, 15 May 1998
  2. ^ "Gatland takes over as Ireland coach". BBC Sport. 24 February 1998. Retrieved 5 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Connacht 13-18 Munster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Duignan does it for the West", Sunday World, 23 August 1998
  5. ^ Micheal McGeary, "Chastened Shadows", Sunday Life, 23 August 1998
  6. ^ Kieran Rooney, "Elwood injury blow as Leinster go top", Sunday Independent, 29 August 1998
  7. ^ "Munster 21-7 Connacht". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Allnutt is alright for Connacht", Sunday Life, 4 October 1998
  9. ^ Jim Stokes, "Bell and Ward in top gear", Belfast Telegraph, 24 October 1998
  10. ^ "Five-try Connacht get back to basics", Sunday Independent, 27 September 1998
  11. ^ "Another Houdini act from spirited Connacht", Irish Examiner, 8 October 1998
  12. ^ "Allnutt is hero for Connacht", Irish Independent, 12 October 1998
  13. ^ "Allnutt is hero for Connacht", Irish Independent, 12 October 1998
  14. ^ "Connacht's Euro dream squelched in Welsh mud", Connacht Tribune, 6 November 1998
  15. ^ "Distribution of top players queries after Connacht's exit", Irish EXaminer, 9 November 1998
  16. ^ "Three tries of Southam against the Moroccans", Irish Examiner, 8 August 1998
  17. ^ David Kelso, "Craig lifts Reds but there's still room for improvement", The Scotsman, 5 September 1998
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