Connacht scored two late tries against Cardiff to secure a 35-20 win, securing a place in the 2025 EPCR Challenge Cup.
Connacht continued their pool stage form right from the opening stages as Matthew Devine opened the scoring for the hosts in the second minute.
Callum Sheedy brought the visitors back to within touching distance, thanks to a converted penalty.
And it was this momentum that they needed to get themselves a try later on in the half.
Three minutes from time, Rey Lee-Lo crossed for the Welsh side to send them into the lead.
But the script had other treats in store, with Connacht still yet to get a 45th-minute try through Sean Jansen.
Connacht clearly meant business as soon as they came out for the second half at the Dexcom Stadium.
Finn Treacy touched down just a minute after the proceedings were resumed to put breathing distance between the two sides.
It was clear that Cardiff was determined to recoup, and Ben Thomas was the man to cross on 53 minutes.
Josh Adams went one further for the Welsh on the hour mark to bring the deficit to just one point.
This was a red rag to a bull for Connacht, though, and Shayne Bolton’s try on 66 minutes put more distance between the two and effectively ended the tie.
Paul Boyle put the icing on the cake four minutes from time to continue Connacht’s win streak in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Scorers:
Connacht Rugby: Tries: Matthew Devine, Sean Jansen, Finn Treacy, Shayne Bolton, Paul Boyle. Conversions: JJ Hanrahan (3), Josh Ioane (2).
Cardiff Rugby: Tries: Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams. Conversion: Ben Thomas. Penalty: Callum Sheedy.
Teams:
Connacht Rugby: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Oisin Dowling, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan (c), 1 Jordan Duggan. Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Piers O’Conor.
Cardiff Rugby: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Harri Millard, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 James Botham, 6 Alun Lawrence, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (c), 1 Danny Southworth. Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Alex Mann, 21 Thomas Young, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Rory Jennings.