Connacht coach Pat Lam says he told his players they were going to win yesterday’s dramatic Guinness PRO12 game against Munster before the match even started.

The Westerners fought back from 13 points down before hanging on in the closing stages to clinch a memorable 24-16 New Year's Day victory at a gusty Sportsgrounds.

It was only Connacht’s second win over Munster in the last 42 meetings.

“Following from beating Leinster here too as well, it’s massive,” said Lam Told Rob Murphy of Galway Bay FM.

“Doing it early on (in the season) is one thing ... doing it when it really counts is another.

“We were absolutely gutted we lost the Leinster and the Ulster games.

“I told the boys, ‘I believe we’re gonna win this game, I really do.’”