Munster's MacHale mentality gives Costello confidence for late-season run 

'When we were numbers down, character and fight is huge,' says interim head coach after gritty 30-24 win at the home of Mayo GAA 

HOW YOU DO IT: Munster’s Jean Kleyn and head coach Ian Costello celebrate in Castlebar. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Ian Costello left MacHale Park delighted with the character and composure shown by his Munster side as they secured a crucial 30-24 bonus-point derby victory over Connacht in Mayo on Saturday.

The interim head coach saw Munster, rejuvenated by returning internationals and fit-again stars, bounce back from consecutive league defeats to bolster their end-of-season play-off hopes. Yet it was a close-run thing following the 25th minute sending off of centre Alex Nankivell and second-half yellow cards for Tadhg Beirne and Niall Scannell that reduced the visitors to 13 men for an additional 11 minutes.