Connacht hit back to beat Cardiff Blues 19-13 in Guinness PRO12

Connacht recovered from a 13-point deficit to snatch a 19-13 triumph at Cardiff Blues in the Guinness PRO12 and keep alive their faint hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions Cup.

Tiernan O'Halloran's drop-goal, and Craig Ronaldson's even later long-range penalty at the death, sealed the all-important victory.

John Cooney missed an early chance to give Connacht the lead with a long-range penalty, but Gareth Anscombe made no mistake from the same distance to put the Blues 3-0 ahead after 12 minutes.

The New Zealand-born Wales international stretched his side's lead to six points at the end of the first quarter, with another penalty kick from an identical position.

Nick Williams finally got the try the Blues were seeking after 28 minutes. Willis Halaholo left a trail of defenders in his wake, as he jinked 40 metres downfield, before the hard-hitting No 8 burrowed over from close range.

And with Anscombe landing the conversion, the hosts moved 13-0 ahead. But just before the break, Matt Healey dragged the Galway side back into the contest.

Hooker Tom McCartney broke free in midfield and almost got over the line himself, before Jack Carty found Healy in space for an easy run-in.

Cooney cut the gap to just three points, moments after the restart, and then levelled the scores 17 minutes from time.

The visitors thought they had scored a second try after 70 minutes, through Niyi Adeolokun, but after consulting with the television match official, Marius Mitrea ruled he had knocked on

Another chance fell to Healy when all he had to do was collect the pass and dive over in the corner, but spilled the ball at the vital moment.

Carty then missed a drop-goal attempt in the 78th minute, but O'Halloran landed one of his own before Ronaldson's long-range penalty secured the win.