Having weathered an almighty storm for 38 minutes in the second half, the proud Irish province somehow found the strength to rise one final attack and leave the Saracens with their hearts in their mouths.

The visitors were the dominant force for much of the game, but they were never able to turn their pressure into enough points to put real daylight between them and their stubborn hosts on the scoreboard.

The English Premiership side got off to a flying start and scored two tries in the blink of an eye as they notched 14 points in as many minutes.

From a clean line-out clean feed off the top at the tail by skipper Steve Borthwick the Saracens worked the ball into the midfield and created some space for centre Chris Wyles to exploit. He dummied his way past his opposite number before pinning back his ears and racing 40 metres to score at the posts.

England wing Chris Ashton was next over the home line after some breathtaking approach work, Schalk Brits providing the final pass. Owen Farrell converted both and the only response from the home side was a penalty from the Dan Parks.

But as soon as they came to terms with the pace of the game it was Connacht who turned on he style. With Parks tormenting the Sarries with his towering up and unders, the Irish province roared back into the game to level the scores by the break.

Livewire scrum half Kieran Marmion, whose father Mick used to play for the Saracens, made the most of a loose ball as he raced 40 metres to hugely embarrass three defenders and reach the posts for a try which Parks converted.

And then when Marmion picked out South African wing Danie Poolman in space on the narrow side of another quick ruck, he was able to step inside two men and score a second try. Once again Parks knocked over the conversion and he almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when Matt Stevens was penalised for some shirt pulling.

Borthwick’s men started the second half as they had done in the first, although this time they maintained their pressure. Connacht had to make 30 tackles in the opening 15 minutes of the half and were pinned back in their 22.

Twice the Saracens reached the line, but on both occasions the TMO ruled out scores for lock George Kruis and then scrum half Neil de Kock. It wasn’t until Connacht were penalised for not rolling away in a last gasp tackle on their line that Saracens were able to regain the lead via the boot of Farrell on 53 minutes.

His third penalty success came 20 minutes later, but merely breathed new life into the Connacht side. They came storming up the field and almost grabbed the glory at the death.