Munster too strong for Connacht

Munster 33 Connacht 3

Munster overcame a power cut as well as a determined Connacht side at Musgrave Park to reach the Celtic League semi-finals.

Connacht started the brighter side and were dominating possession and territory before a floodlight failure struck in the 13th minute.

The players were taken off the pitch until power was restored 12 minutes later.

When the game got underway, Connacht remained the the team most likely to score but within eight minutes of the restart, Munster’s Ronan O’Gara had kicked the home side in front against the run of play with a penalty from just inside the Connacht half.

Connacht were soon back on level terms as Mark McHugh sent his penalty over in the 22nd minute before O’Gara struck again two minutes later front of the posts to give the home side a 6-3 lead.

Connacht stayed on top and were denied a try in the 28th minute when the Munster defence was stretched to the limit and Gavin Duffy on the right wing looked certain to score in the corner only to put a foot in touch.

Munster were off the hook again but in trouble as half-time approached when lock Paul O’Connell, playing his first competitive game of the season following back surgery, was sin-binned.

The home side had another chance to move ahead, though in first-half injury time when Connacht were penalised in a ruck.

But with the last kick of the half, O’Gara sent the ball just wide to leave Munster 6-3 ahead at the interval.

The restart saw a marked improvement from Munster as well as an increase in animosity between the sides and Welsh referee Nigel Owens sent Munster’s Marcus Horan and Connacht’s Peter Bracken, to the sin bin just as O’Connell was rejoining play.

But Munster were up and running and camped inside the Connacht 22 as the visitors were forced to defend phase after phase.

They continued to keep the Reds at bay before referee Owens awarded a penalty in front of the posts which O’Gara gratefully accepted.

Owens then awarded a penalty try to tip the balance in Munster’s favour as O’Gara’s conversion opened up a 16-3 lead.

Mossie Lawler touched down in the corner with 12 minutes to go and push Munster closer to the last four before Mike Mullins struck twice with tries in injury time.