Academic or not, this was a richly-deserved end-of-season victory at the Galway Sports Ground on Saturday. Stylish it was not, but this win added some respectability to a season that had seen Connacht successful over Leinster and become a competitive European force in coach Steph Nel's first term.

Significantly, Connacht's win avenged the dismal 45-0 loss to Neath in the Gnoll in October.

Although young Welsh winger Shane Williams opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty, Connacht recovered well with left wing Darren Yapp finding the gap on the blind side from a five-metre scrum. Eric Elwood's conversion and a 27th-minute penalty gave Connacht the half-time lead. Neath prop Andrew Millward had scored from a lineout and drive in the 13th minute.

It was a different story in the second half as Neath owned the ball, due in part to Connacht kicking away possession. But the home side's impenetrable defence, exemplified by man of the match and new Irish squad member Johnny O'Connor, held firm.

A penalty from Neath outhalf Patrick Horgan was insufficient to close the gap after an earlier Elwood effort.

Scoring sequence: 3 mins: William pen 0-3; 9: Yapp try Elwood con 7-3; 13: Millward try, Horgan con 7-8; 27: Elwood pen 10-8; 42: Elwood pen 138; 69: Horgan pen 13-11.

CONNACHT: W Munn; D Rumney, P Duignan, T Allnutt, D Yapp; E Elwood, J Ferris; D McFarland, J McVeigh, M Cahill, R Frost, M McConnell, J Charlie, J O'Connor, M Swift. Replacements: I Dillon for Charlie (52 mins), B Shelbourne for Ferris (52 mins), B Rigney for Swift (66 mins), M Murphy for Yapp (75 mins).

NEATH: G John; K James, J Storey, T Davies, S Williams; P Horgan, M Davies; P Jones, S Jones, A Millward, A Jackson, G Llewellyn, K Tuifolotu, N Bonner-Evans, B Simkinson. Replacements: A Hunt for Millward (42 mins), D Jones for Simkinson (44 mins), A Steven for Williams (44 mins), R Philips for Jackson (66 mins), A Booth for Davies (63 mins).

Sin binned: A Hunt (Neath, 42 mins), M Swift (Connacht, 55 mins).

Referee: E Darriere (France)