Had a great night despite the result, the atmosphere was fantastic and the Sportsground looked superb. Great buzz around town too before and after the game and the branch and marketing team deserve a lot of credit for helping create it. The game was disappointing, don't think we played to our strenghts at all although the pressure we were under from Toulouse, especially at scrum time was incredible so it's understandable in a way. Thought the ref had a shocking game,very weak. Macca's yellow was about the only thing he got right all night. I was expecting more from a Heineken Cup level official.... Still it was massive experience for the team and at least we denied them a bonus point. Onwards and upwards, hope there's a good turnout for the Ospreys game after this

No way was it the Ref at the Sportsground, he may have been muck but then so were we in the first half..

Phew, twas just the muck savages

Irish Independent:-

'CLAIMS that Mayo referee Liam Devenney and one of his umpires were struck as they attempted to leave the pitch marred yesterday's AIB Connacht Club football final, which provided enough talking points to keep partisans and neutrals alike occupied for quite some time'.

Porterbelly wrote:

Conman wrote: Are you sure? there was a ref hit at a Connaught football game.I really hope it didn't happen. it'd really tarnish our first hc home game.

Ya Corofin v Brigids, there was aggro after that.

Hope it wasn't the rugby becasue we'll be in big trouble. Fine, having to play rest of HC games behind closed doors, that kind of thing

Ya, hopefully I heard wrong or that the newsreader just left out the specifics of the case! Wouldn't like to think it'd happen here!

Conman wrote: Are you sure? there was a ref hit at a Connaught football game.I really hope it didn't happen. it'd really tarnish our first hc home game.

Ya Corofin v Brigids, there was aggro after that.

Hope it wasn't the rugby becasue we'll be in big trouble. Fine, having to play rest of HC games behind closed doors, that kind of thing

Are you sure? there was a ref hit at a Connaught football game.I really hope it didn't happen. it'd really tarnish our first hc home game.

Green eagle wrote: In the backs I'd love to see McCrea, Vainakolo, Moore and Tonnetti get an opportunity.

I'd like to see players get a rest this week after their exertions as well. They'll need a break and have a lot of big games coming up.

I'd like to see a back line of Murphy, Jarvis, Vainikolo, Henry, Tonetti, McCrea, TOH for the Ospreys, but if we did that they'd have a short turn around. The scheduling of the 'A' game on a Monday isn't the greatest plan.

DaSpecialOne wrote: Just heard on news that Connacht are investigating whether the ref was struck after the match on saturday. 

what? are you serious? there is no place for this in connacht. if this is true the person in question should be banned and named and shamed. i no he had a poor game but we dont do that.
this was the first game all season that supporters made there way on the pitch. mostly looked like they were no older than 18 or 19. some toulouse supporters there also

DaSpecialOne wrote: Just heard on news that Connacht are investigating whether the ref was struck after the match on saturday. 

I bloody well hope not. He may or may not have had a great game, but Toulouse's pressure was a bigger factor in us conceding penalties than his inexperience.

Anyone who did that deserves a life ban, I don't want us getting a reputation for that kind of crap.

Saturday was a real taste of 'Welcome to the big time Connacht'. The atmosphere was fantastic in the build up to the kick off , but understandably diminished when Toulose took such impressive control so early in the first half.I thought they justified their reputation and took the simple options early on to get the scoreboard ticking in their favour.

It was disappointing that we did'nt start with the same fervour that we started against Quins last week. As we saw in the second half, after a hairdryer from Eric I suspect, we performed much better when we pressed them, both in attack and defence. We stood off them too much in the first half and gave them far too much time with the ball in hand. When Mc Sharry and Griffen came up quicker in the second half that changed.

I thought that Duffy was outstanding. 12 and 13 are great prospects. I thought that 10 and 14 have definitely had better games. Frank definitely brought some pace to the ball when he came on.

Our problem for the coming weeks is the size of our squad. How Eric manages the demands of the Rabo (our bread and butter) against those of the HEC will be interesting. We have a limited number of players on the bench/A side who can realistically contribute to the senior side. In the backs I'd love to see McCrea, Vainakolo, Moore and Tonnetti get an opportunity. Squad rotation is a luxury we can't avail of if we dont know who can step up and deliver on their potential. The demands on the senior team will begin to tell more and more as the season progresses due to injury, fatigue and loss of the hunger to play

Just heard on news that Connacht are investigating whether the ref was struck after the match on saturday. 
Edited: Don't mind me, they were talking about GAA!!

We had a fabulous time.

Congratulations and thanks to all those who made it such brilliant evening to have been part of.

Hey, Connacht came up short against Toulouse. Connacht players gave everything they had; for sure they’ll be some disappointment but they’ll learn, digest and move forwards.

Injury or no Ofisa should have started and Gannon on the bench, we needed to stop Toulouse at source right from the start and Ray would have really taken it to the Toulouse back row, also adding much more carrying ability than Gannon who I though was pretty passive. Swifty and Macca fire each other at second row and it was clearly missing with the change. Though our backs did very well give the lack of possession in the first half. McSharry is definatelty a keeper on this form, reminds me of a younger Jimmy Downey (physcially and skills wise)...

Spot on Cows, Played the top european side and we didnt get hammered. The score was about right we were lucky some times and unlucky other times during the game.
Was thinking during the game that the players expecially the young ones must have got some buzz.

I think we really need to take this game in its context.
We played a team who in all honesty would put it up to the All Blacks, and we lost by 26 points.

We are a poor (financial) team, and we did everything we could.

We should be appreciating the fact that we were playing in the Heineken Cup first of all.
It could be years before we get another chance unfortunately, and we have to enjoy games like these.

I had a great day, and despite not picking up any points, we should hold our heads up high.

Speaking with Macca on Saturday night, he said to me, that they're aim is to pick up 8 points minimum from Glocester. He was very appreciative of the crowd as well. This was something that the players wont forget for a long time.

I've been to games where Edinburgh have put 50 past us. Remember, only last year we lost in Italy in the Amlin Cup.

Be grateful for the big improvements we're making, and we have to remember, we are playing so far ahead of where we really should be.

I'm proud to be a Connacht fan, and will continue appreciating every good result we grind out