No bonus but Reds stay on track

MUNSTER’S challenge for the Magners League title remains very much on course after Saturday night’s 25-10 defeat of Connacht at Thomond Park but if they happen to be caught at the post, they may well rue the failure to take a bonus point from this game.

A resolute Connacht side restricted them to three tries as a number of gilt-edged chances were scorned while apparent indecision right at the end saw them finish the game with 14 players. Denis Leamy retired as a precautionary measure in the 77th minute and it looked as if David Wallace was coming in as a replacement. However, he resumed his seat and for a scrum close to the opposition line, winger Ian Dowling was pressed into service as a flanker.

But Connacht stole the ball on the Munster put-in, cleared their lines and finished the remainder of the game on the offensive. The European champions, of course, are still red-hot favourites for the title given that they are eleven points ahead of both Ospreys, who admittedly have a game in hand, and Leinster. Their remaining three matches are against the Scarlets at Musgrave Park next Friday, the Blues at Cardiff Arms Park on May 8 and Ospreys at Thomond on May 16.

Meanwhile, Connacht probably need to win their three remaining games against the Gwent Dragons, Ulster and Glasgow to have any chance of Heineken Cup rugby next season. As is usually the case, good fortune wasn’t always on their side on this occasion as they took the initiative from the kick-off and deservedly led after seven minutes with an Ian Keatley penalty.

Munster were making a lot of mistakes at this point, most notably at the line-outs where Denis Fogarty had trouble finding his jumpers and it took them until the 23rd minute to draw level with a penalty by Paul Warwick, the man who can do little wrong these days. Four minutes later, Barry Murphy, another in great form and rightly chosen as man of the match, scorched through for the game’s first try.

Warwick added another penalty and Murphy played the key role in a Doug Howlett try converted from the touch line by Warwick, sending Munster in at half time ahead 20-3 and in control. However, they got a rude awakening as Connacht swept into the attack on the restart and winger Fionn Carr took his try scoring opportunity in style.

Keatley added the points and for a time Connacht looked well capable of rattling the favourites cage. However, a devastating tackle by Howlett on Mel Deane, who had only just joined the fray, altered the tempo in Munster’s favour and on 50 minutes, Freddie Puciariello got the touch down after a concerted attack on the Connacht line. Warwick converted and the bonus point looked a formality, especially when the visiting captain John Muldoon was yellow carded.

However, there was no further scoring as Munster coach Tony McGahan introduced only Lifeimi Mafi of his star players watching from the replacement bench. He was as clever and dangerous as ever but his team’s frustration must have been near breaking point when the Kiwi’s scoring pass to Murphy went astray when the much coveted fourth try looked a certainty.

Tony McGahan would have been delighted with the form of the entire back line. Murphy and Peter Stringer, who have had to be content with warming the bench on big match days, were outstanding and Keith Earls was a distinct threat every time he gained possession.

It was an enjoyable, hard-fought game and who would ever have imagined a decade or so ago that around 20,000 people would attend a game between Munster and Connacht. It was its own graphic illustration of how far the professional game in this country has come in a relatively short space of time.

nIt was erroneously reported in Saturday’s edition that Fionn Carr will be joining Munster next season. That is not the case, and we apologise for the confusion.

MUNSTER: D. Hurley; D. Howlett, B. Murphy, K. Earls, I. Dowling; P. Warwick, P. Stringer; F. Pucciariello, D. Fogarty, T. Buckley, M. O’Driscoll capt, D. Ryan, N. Williams, N. Ronan, D. Leamy.

Replacements: L. Mafi for Hurley (63); B. Holland for Williams (70); M. Essex for Fogarty (75).

CONNACHT: G. Duffy; F. Carr, N. Ta’auso, T. Nathan, L. Bibo; I. Keatley, F. Murphy; B. Wilkinson, S. Cronin, R. Loughney, A. Browne, A. Farley, J. Muldoon capt, J. O’Connor, C. Rigney.

Replacements: D. Gannon for Rigney (half time); M. Deane for Nathan (45); A. Flavin for Cronin (51); A. Swift for Browne (56); B. McGovern for Loughney (60); C. O’Loughlin for Murphy (73); Loughney for Wilkinson (75).

Referee: J. Jones (Wales).