The defeat dealt the Rodney Parade side a big blow in their quest to qualify automatically ahead of the Ospreys for the European Cup next season.

The Irish province, eight points behind Ulster, had to win for any mathematical chance of catching Ulster above them and securing a prized Heineken place for next season.

But, by half-time, it looked like they would still be playing European Challenge Cup rugby next season as the Dragons lead 11-6.

The Irishmen did not make it easy for the Welsh region who have to play both leaders Leinster and the team above them, the Ospreys, twice before the end of the campaign.

It looked like the Dragons would beat the weakest of the Irish regions when they led 8-0 after 20 minutes through a penalty from outside-half Ceri Sweeney and a gift of a try from a sloppy Adrian Flavin lineout throw on his own line for number eight Michael Owen.

Yet the Dragons became sloppy themselves and allowed Connacht's Kiwi stand-off Troy Nathan to bring his team back into the match with a couple of simple penalties.

And it was only when Connacht were caught offside 30 metres from their posts on the stroke of half-time that Sweeney booted a straight-forward penalty to increase the Dragons' advantage.

Connacht defended well with full-back Gavin Duffy and scrum-half Connor McPhillips both making decisive tackles out wide either side of the interval.

As the game reached the hour mark, both Nathan and Sweeney had penalty chances which they missed.

McPhillips also came to Connacht's rescue a couple of times as the Dragons turned the screw, finding holes in the defence and battering their opposition, chiefly through the pack led by skipper Colin Charvis.

However the Dragons could not make their territorial second half advantage tell.

Sweeney and prop Rhys Thomas went close, as did Owen, but mistakes let them down.

And they were further frustrated as a brilliant tackle from Duffy prevented Sweeney scoring a solo try under the posts as he cut through the middle of the Connacht defence.

For all their bravery, Connacht deserved one chance of winning the match and, when they reached the Dragons line in the dying moments, flanker Johnny O'Connor took it.

He picked up from a ruck to go over to level the scores and the conversion from Andrew Dunne put the Irishmen in front and also won the match for them.