Connacht have 'to turn the page' after Munster loss for Challenge Cup knock-out against Cardiff
KNOCKOUT RUGBY: Connacht's Dave Heffernan is hoping Connacht can turn the page from their loss to Munster in Castlebar for their Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash with Cardiff at the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
Dave Heffernan will be hoping Connacht have already turned the page following their URC derby setback in his home county as his side resumes its chase for silverware in the European Challenge Cup back in Galway this Saturday.
An unbeaten pool campaign in December and January has given Connacht top seeding for the knockout rounds which get underway this weekend with the first of what the province will be hoping is a run of home ties all the way to the final, starting with the visit of URC rivals Cardiff to Dexcom Stadium for the Round of 16 tie.
After this season’s league play-off hopes were dealt a severe blow in defeat to Munster at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Co. Mayo last weekend, Heffernan knows the advantageous path to the final laid out before them will be meaningless if the squad does not quickly overcome its disappointment and frustration with last Saturday’s 30-24 loss in front of a provincial record 27,580 crowd on Mayo GAA turf.
“We’ve been really, really good in the Challenge Cup. To get the top seed is massive and to have Cardiff and home knockout games all the way to the final potentially is huge but we just need to switch on for Cardiff now,” Heffernan said.
“We know the importance of the game and the magnitude of it. It’s a long, long way away but there’s silverware there at the end of it so it’s massive and we have to turn the page on the URC for the next two weeks and hopefully have a right crack at the Challenge Cup.”
Heffernan agreed the MacHale Park loss had made this Saturday’s Cardiff clash even more important but on Saturday night the deep disappointment was offset by the sense of occasion he felt from bringing the game to the home of Mayo GAA.
“I was very disappointed that we couldn’t get it done for all the Mayo fans and the Connacht fans who had travelled from across the province today, it does hurt a bit more.
“It was incredible, the whole buzz around the whole week. We had Kevin McStay in on Tuesday, which was pretty special, and I never thought I’d get to put on a Connacht jersey in MacHale Park.
“The fans were amazing at the end, I just wish we’d given them more to cheer about during the game. The atmosphere was electric in the last 20 minutes when we started to turn it on.
“Look it’s hard to put it into perspective after a loss but it was an historic occasion and it’s one that will live long in the memory.”
Heffernan is also hoping the crowds will return to Galway when the newly-renamed Sportsground’s redevelopment is complete following the example set in Castlebar.
“Yeah, 100%. When I joined Connacht, maybe there was a perception that it was a Galway team, so to be able to fill out a stadium like this with 27,000 and a lot of people were getting on to me during the week looking for tickets so there’s plenty more demand as well, it’s incredible.
“I think the growth in Connacht and the support we get is incredible and it’s just a pity we couldn’t do it for the fans today.
“There should be no doubts about how exciting it will be next season now. If we’re able to fill out a 27,000 capacity stadium we can fill out the Sportsground.”
