Connacht's play-off hopes ended after Edinburgh loss
Connacht's slim BKT URC play-off hopes were ended as they lost 31-21 to Edinburgh at the Dexcom Stadium.
Needing two wins and for other results to go their way, Cullie Tucker's side are now mathematically out of contention, and they will play Challenge Cup rugby for the second year in a row next season.
This was the team's 12th defeat of a disappointing season, during which they parted company with head coach Pete Wilkins.
The visitors, who moved to ninth in the table and still with their own play-off hopes, scored twice in the opening half, with Lions prop Pierre Schoeman barging over for an early try.
Soon after Connacht captain Cian Prendergast (above) had a try chalked off for obstruction following a late TMO intervention, Scotland flanker Hamish Watson sprinted down the wing for a second try on 27 minutes with Ross Thompson adding the conversion.
Finn Treacy got Connacht on the scoresheet two minutes into the second half after Shayne Bolton burst up the middle to create space out wide, with JJ Hanrahan adding the conversion.
The flying winger scored his second ten minutes later, running a perfect line close to a ruck on the 22 and taking a pop pass off scrum-half Ben Murphy before running in under the posts, the conversion squaring up the game.
However, Connacht were made to pay for the concession of three penalties in quick succession with Edinburgh flanker Ben Muncaster crashing over after a lineout maul.
But the momentum was to swing again when out-half Thompson missed touch from a penalty and Connacht took advantage moments later with Bolton diving in at the corner.
Hanrahan, alongside Conor Oliver and Santiago Cordero making their final home appearances for the club, converted from the sideline to level proceedings again.
Connacht twice went close to scoring a fourth before replacement scrum-half Charlie Shiel took advantage of poor defending at a ruck 10 metres inside his own half to race in under the posts.
Former Munster out-half Ben Healy converted and added a late penalty to deny Connacht, who face Zebre away next weekend, even the consolation of a losing bonus point.
SCORERS
Connacht
Tries: Treacy (2) Bolton
Cons: Hanrahan (3)
Edinburgh
Tries: Schoeman, Watson, Muncaster, Shiel
Cons: Thompson (3), Healy
Pen: Healy
Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Shayne Bolton, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Conor Oliver, . Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin (for Heffernan 63), Peter Dooley (Buckley 63), Jack Aungier (Bealham 63), Oisín Dowling (Murray 54-72 (hia)), Paul Boyle (Jansen 54), Caolin Blade (Murphy 67), Cathal Forde, David Hawkshaw (Hugh Gavin h/t).
Edinburgh: Wes Goosen; Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Jack Brown; Ross Thompson, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae; Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner; Ben Muncaster, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury (capt).
Replacements: Paddy Harrison (Ashman 63), Boan Venter (Schoeman 63), Javan Sebastian (Rae 50), Glen Young (Sykes 72), Liam McConnell (Muncaster 74), Charlie Shiel (Price 68), Ben Healy (Thompson 72), Findlay Thomson (Tuipulotu 55).
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