Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney praised his side’s strong second-half performance in their 24-12 loss to Magners League minnows Connacht here tonight.

The Irish team who have finished on the bottom of the European competition for the last two seasons, bolted out of the gates to lead the Reds 24-0 at the break.

But the Australian side turned around a scratchy first half, filled with handling errors to hold their own in the second 40 minutes, scoring 12 unanswered points.

The Reds face Magners League champions Leinster later this week.

“It was looking pretty ugly at 24-0 down,” Reds coach Phil Mooney said.

“So it was pleasing the way the young guys had a real dig and finished the game strongly.

“We knew that every game would be a challenge and Leinster have clearly got some world class players, but at the end of the day this tour’s not about going through undefeated, it’s about setting guys up for Super 14 in two or three years time, so it’s certainly serving the purpose for us there.”

Mooney had opted to make several changes following his side’s 24-0 loss to Ulster, which saw QAS Reds Academy halfback Jono Lance grab the starting playmaker role.

It was the home side who had all the early heavy traffic with new stand-off signing Ian Keatley booting them into the lead after just 90 seconds with a penalty.

Winger Mike Roberts then put them further in front just two minutes later, on the end of a long, looping pass from halfback Frank Murphy after Connacht won a line-out against the throw two metres from the Reds line.

Connacht captain John Muldoon pounced on a loose Reds ball and swung it to new fullback Fionn Carr who hit a gap at pace and sprinted from his opposite 22 to cross the line between the posts.

Roberts grabbed his second on the back of a bust by Duffy and last minute offload by openside flanker Ray Ofisa.

Keately gave a strong showing with the boot, converting all three tries.

A late forward pass ruling denied Reds fullback Rod Davies a Reds try early in the second half as Queensland began to claw back some ground.

“Rodney was very good. First game back at fullback in rugby for two or three years,” Mooney said.

Some respectability came when stand-off Brendan McKibbin scurried off a ball from the scrumbase inside the 22 to dive over just left of the upright and converted his own try five minutes left to play.

And a late pushover try to Leroy Houston after a wave of pressure on the Connacht line which McKibbin failed to convert saved even further face.

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