Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney praised his side's strong second-half performance in its 24-12 loss to Magners League minnows Connacht in Galway, Ireland yesterday.

The Irish team, which has finished on the bottom of the European competition for the last two seasons, bolted out of the gates to lead the Reds 24-0 at the break.

But the Australian side turned around a scratchy first half, filled with handling errors to hold its own in the second 40 minutes, scoring 12 unanswered points.

The Reds face Magners League champion Leinster later this week.

''It was looking pretty ugly at 24-0 down,'' Reds coach Phil Mooney said.

''So it was pleasing the way the young guys had a real dig and finished the game strongly.

''But at the end of the day this tour's not about going through undefeated, it's about setting guys up for Super 14 in two or three years' time, so it's certainly serving the purpose for us there.''

It was the home side which had all the early heavy traffic with new stand-off signing Ian Keatley booting Connacht into the lead after just 90 seconds with a penalty.

Winger Mike Roberts then put them further in front just two minutes later, on the end of a long, looping pass from scrumhalf Frank Murphy after Connacht won a line-out against the throw 2m from the Reds line. Connacht captain John Muldoon pounced on a loose Reds ball and passed it to new fullback Fionn Carr who hit a gap at pace and sprinted from his opposite 22 to cross the line between the posts.

Roberts grabbed his second on the back of a bust by Duffy and last-minute offload by openside flanker Ray Ofisa.

Keately gave a strong showing with the boot, converting all three tries.

A late forward pass ruling denied Reds fullback Rod Davies a try early in the second half as Queensland began to claw its way back into the contest.

Some respectability came for the Reds when stand-off Brendan McKibbin scurried off a ball from the scrumbase inside the 22 to dive over just left of the upright and converted his own try with five minutes left to play.

And a late pushover try to Leroy Houston after a wave of pressure on the Connacht line saved even further face. AAP