Andy Friend toasted a very happy Christmas for Connacht after they ground down Ulster at the Sportsground to ease the pain of their agonising loss to Leinster.
The Westerners were denied a first away win against Leo Cullen's men in 16 years when Andrew Porter squeezed over at the death.
It could have left them with a festive hangover, but Connacht bounced back on Friday night with a deserved 21-12 defeat of Ulster to bring the good vibes back.
"It wasn't the prettiest but there was a lot of good stuff in there too," head coach Freind told RTÉ Sport's Michael Corcoran afterwards.
"In order to win inter-pros and championships you need a forward pack that's working, and ours is currently working really well.
"There's a lot of belief in the group. We were bitterly disappointed with last week's result but we knew the areas we needed to fix. This was about saying,'listen let's park the bits we didn't get right, let's look at the things we did do right, we're still a very good football team, so let's go out there and play'."
"It is a tight conference. Every point matters."
Friend's charges wrap up their Christmas/New Year schedule with a home clash against Munster on 5 January.
They'll get a breather now before looking to go again.
"We get an extra day this week. We'd a six-day turnaround after Leinster; this one's an eight-day turnaround. We'll be well rested for that. We know it's going to be another big occasion and a massive challenge for us.
I enjoyed the fact we were able to give the squad a couple of days to go home and enjoy their own families, which is always important. They responded with a good win. I think the message there is that you don't always have to keep flogging the horse.
"If you give them a bit of leeway and trust them to go and spend some time with their family and friends they;ll turn up and deliver for you. The boys did that."
The Australian also reserved special praise for the province's passionate home support, adding: "Our support is unbelievable. We see them wherever we travel. Wherever we go they turn up.
"I couldn't be prouder of the Connacht clan and the green army we've got there. What's nice is to be able to give them that Chrissie present of a win."
