Last-gasp O'Gara drop goal gives Munster win

Glasgow 26 Munster 28

Ronan O’Gara was Munster’s last-gasp hero as they warmed up for their Heineken Cup campaign with a nailbiting triumph at Hughenden.

A Dan Parks penalty had seemed to be enough to earn struggling Glasgow a much-needed Celtic League success.

But O’Gara’s drop-goal with the last kick of the game proved the telling strike.

Glasgow had begun at a storming pace and they broke the deadlock after just three minutes.

Flanker Donny Macfadyen tested the Munster defence with a midfield dash which led to a penalty, easily slotted from 35 metres by outside half Parks.

The home troops kept up the early pressure and only a last gasp challenge in the corner by Shaun Payne prevented Sean Lamont from grabbing the opening try.

The Irishmen hit back in positive fashion and they levelled the contest in the 17th minute with a short-range O’Gara penalty after Andy Hall was guilty of throwing a punch in his own danger zone.

Glasgow shrugged off the setback to edge back in front just three minutes later, again via the boot of Parks.

O’Gara was narrowly wide with a snap drop-goal attempt – and the Scots made the most of the reprieve by creating a superb touchdown.

Scrum-half Sam Pinder launched the move inside his own half by taking a tapped penalty and releasing the elusive Lamont.

The winger was brought down 30 metres short of the target, but Macfadyen was perfectly positioned on his shoulder to gleefully finish the job. Parks added the extras to open up a 10-point gap.

Rattled Munster bounced back to carve out a try of their own after Macfadyen blotted his copybook by being sinbinned.

David Wallace inflicted the initial damage with a powerful run – then in the wake of a penalty, hooker Frankie Sheahan was driven over.

They almost scored again on the stroke of the break, but Peter Stringer spilled the ball just a pace short of the line while being harried by Pinder.

Munster came out at the restart with all guns blazing and were back on terms within two minutes as Christian Cullen’s pace left the home markers for dead. O’Gara’s conversion attempt crashed back off the near post.

The Glasgow players and fans were then left raging when Wallace escaped unpunished after landing a blatant off-the-ball punch on Cammy Mather – right under the eyes of the stand-side touchjudge, John Steele.

Their anger turned to joy, however, as the Warriors grabbed their second try. The chance appeared to have disappeared, but the pack secured turnover ball - giving centre Andy Henderson the time and space to scuttle through. Parks converted.

Again Munster reacted immediately and they replied with a simple score from Anthony Horgan – goaled from the widest possible angle by O’Gara to set up a tense finale.

Cullen then completed his double to give his side the lead for the first time, with Parks clawing back three points for Glasgow.

Then came the dramatic finish as O’Gara sealed the win.