Connacht 14
Edinburgh 14

There was late drama at the Sportsground on Friday night as both sides came within a whisker to snatching victory with last gasp drop goals.

STAR MAN . . . Connacht?s player of the season last year Ray Ofisa who is doubtful for Friday?s clash with Leinster.

But for the second season in a row this fixture ended in stalemate as Connacht's Tim Donnelly saw two injury-time drop goals attempts fail to make the target.

And then in the fifth minute of stoppage time debutant David Blair looked to have stolen it for Edinburgh with a 35 metre dropped goal which referee Hugh Watkins ruled to be wide.

Edinburgh players protested as the final whistle went at that point but video footage proved that the referee was correct as the ball sailed wide of the right post.

Connacht will be kicking themselves after failing to maintain their 100% home record after dominating the second-half but they had a lot to do to come back from a first-half where Edinburgh pulled away.

Edinburgh made the most of their opportunities in the opening half and built up a 14-3 lead after 27 minutes after getting a perfect start with a pushover try after six minutes from Ben Gissings. Out-half David Blair, playing with older brother Mike for the first time, landed the difficult conversion from the left touchline.

Connacht responded with a series of attacks but had to be content with just a 12th minute Tim Donnelly penalty.

But just when it seemed that Michael Bradley's men were going to hit the front, they were rocked when hooker Ross Ford broke, offloaded to Mike Blair and Andrew Turnbull had the simple task of touching down in the left corner after coming in off the other win.

Blair added the touchline conversion to his side into a commanding 14-3 lead but Connacht hit back before the break.

Gavin Duffy, Connacht's only World Cup player, created their opening try with a scorching run down the left wing and while he was stopped short, prop Robbie Morris was on hand to score his second try of the season.

Donnelly, who had been off target with a long-range penalty, was unable to land the touchline conversion which left it 14-8 at the break to the visitors.

Connacht dominated the third quarter but the Edinburgh defence was resolute and once more the home side had to be content with just a Donnelly penalty near the hour mark after a long period of dominance.