They had won their last six matches in all tournaments, five of those with maximum points, but this was a different type of victory for Connacht with Kieran Marmion grabbing the only try of the match.
McKeon himself made 23 tackles including in the final minute as Leinster pressed for a final score following a 25-phase move and two scrums within five yards of the Connacht try line.
And the 24-year-old believes their growing confidence this season helped them through the closing minutes.
"In previous years we may have rolled over and died in the last 20 minutes," he said.
"But we spoke in the week about how we were not afraid of Leinster, and how it is them chasing us.
"We have worked hard all season, it is nothing new to us as we have beaten Leinster before. But it is onward and upwards for us.
"This match shows how far we have come, and that we are not a bunch of phoneys.
"We can really put it up to the big boys, and we have proved that we belong in the top six and the Champions Cup next year."
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