As it happened: Impressive Munster storm to big win over Leinster at Croke Park
Munster's Gavin Coombes celebrates after the match. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho
Impressive performance from Munster. Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne the best of a really good bunch. Four from four for Clayton McMillan in the URC. His side now sit at the URC summit. Tough start to the season for Leo Cullen and Leinster.
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Leinster still knocking at the door. No answer yet, but Gavin Coombes may be in trouble for cynical play here. He is shown a yellow but has a huge smile on his face as he departs.
Leinster do get over through Scott Penny, but it's only a consolation. Prendergast kicks over. Game over.
Huge Jimmy O'Brien break gets Leinster up-field. They're now camped on the Munster line - with penalty advantage.
Ball is knocked on and we go back for the penalty. Little scuffle now happening. It wouldn't be Leinster v Munster without it I guess.
Crowley's kick pins Prendergast deep inside Leinster territory. The men in blue are forced to kick, but it's gathered inside the 22 by Munster hands. The ball is worked wide to Abrahams, who offloads to Tom Farrell. Does he get it down over the line? Heading to the TMO.
Penalty try is given. Frawley is punished for his actions while attempting to stop Farrell. He goes to the bin. That's Munster's bonus-point secured.
Another Munster turnover. Nankivell robs it off Lowe. Another big play. Crowley clears but the narrow angle means it doesn't go far.
Another chance for Leinster to go deep into Munster territory off a scrum penalty. Prendergast does just that. Leinster change - Scott Penny in for Max Deegan.
They make their way inside the Munster half but James Lowe loses it forward. Jack Crowley in the thick of it once more. Fintan Gunne is in for Gibson-Park for the final 10 minutes. Munster's lead still stands at 16 points.
There's a knock-on, however. Leinster put-in at the scrum. And they are rewarded with a penalty advantage. Jamie Osborne error means we come back for the pen.
Crowley kicks in behind the Leinster D and Shane Daly regathers. Incredibly, they're now on the Leinster try-line.
Leinster in possession inside the Munster half, but there's a Prendergast knock-on. Munster ball. Beirne departs for a HIA - he's been incredible once more for his province. John Ryan returns having just come off for Foxe.
Leinster in need of something - and fast.
Munster drive Leinster back and that man Beirne gets another turnover. That is huge for Munster, and hugely deflating for the hosts. Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson is in off the replacement bench for Tadhg Furlong. Ronan Foxe on for Munster.
Leinster going through multiple phases but Munster defence still standing strong.
Leinster pressure mounting once more. Another penalty allows Prendergast to go into a now-familiar corner for Dan Sheehan.
Munster disrupt once more, and who claims the ball? Tadhg Beirne, of course. Munster clear to touch. Henshaw departs for the introduction of Leinster replacement Frawley.
Leinster win the penalty off the Munster scrum on the Reds' goal-line. Max Deegan goes quickly. Coughlan goes for an intercept - again - but he knocks it on. That'll be the end of a fruitful evening for the scrum-half - Paddy Patterson is on.
Still Leinster ball.
Dan Sheehan throws and they look to go about forcing their way over but it's another Munster turnover. Beirne gets stuck in and the result is a Munster scrum.
No advantage, back for Leinster pen. The choice? Prendergast kicks to the corner once more. Munster change - Jeremy Loughman in for Michael Milne.
Van der Flier gets over the Munster but it's held up by Coombes and Kleyn. Big play from the Munster forward duo.
Coombes has enjoyed himself since his introduction. Leinster back in Munster 22 after Crowley drop-out. Leinster have the advantage for an off-the-ball tackle.
Leinster on the march, good play gets Jimmy O'Brien through a hole after Abrahams had made a go at an intercept. Ends up in a Leinster penalty and Prendergast opts for the corner.
The kick is good. Munster stretch their lead.
Leinster infringe at the breakdown. Crowley is going for the posts - 45 metres out.
Possession now with Leinster around the halfway line but Tadhg Furlong is held up by Coombes. Another turnover. Munster scrum. Another of the returning Lions cast, Dan Sheehan, replaces Rónan Kelleher for Leinster.
Snyman is limping off the field. Brian Deeny is his replacement.
Tadhg Beirne with another turnover for Munster. The man for the big occasion. Crowley clears his lines.
Leinster penalty at the breakdown. Andrew Porter the man to win it. Great Prendergast kick into the corner. Kelleher to throw.
Lee Barron is on for his namesake Diarmuid in the Munster front-row, as is Jean Kleyn for Edwin Edogbo in the second-row. Sam Prendergast is back on too. He gets the second half underway.
Munster lead by 14. Veteran prop John Ryan told us earlier this week of the need for Munster to go at Leinster for the full 80. That'll be the message in the away dressing room.
Munster regain possession on their own line. Michael Milne the man to do the necessary. Little bit of niggle between the rivals. Snyman and Coombes getting to know each other all over again. Big pressure from Leinster in the scrum but Munster deal with it and Coughlan kicks away.
Leinster penalty after Munster error. Good play from RG Snyman and Prendergast. Ciaran Frawley is in for Prendergast, in what looks like a temporary substitution.
Another Munster try! Scrum-half Coughlan intercepts Gibson-Park's pass and runs the length of the field. Big score for the visitors. Crowley conversion is good.
James Lowe knock on, but it's better from Cullen's men. Munster put-in at the scrum. Leinster free-kick is the decision. They tap-and-go.
Munster fronting up well in defence and Prendergast kicks in behind but Abrahams takes a mark and kicks clear. Leinster come again.
A big half-hour from Gleeson, but the back-row is forced off with an injury. Gavin Coombes is on for Munster. Leinster penalty for a Munster ruck infringement. Prendergast kicks up-field. Play now just outside Munster 22.
The Leinster counter-punch comes from Robbie Henshaw. His poaching ability so important for his side.
Beirne and Munster win another penalty in the ruck and they're back inside the Leinster 22 again.
Sublime score from Munster after Leinster clearance. Lineout goes to Beirne, who dishes it to Ethan Coughlan.
All about Crowley and Tom Farrell from there. Crowley drops a chip in behind Leinster D and Farrell - one-handed - takes it in and runs in under the posts. Crowley extras are good.
Jack O'Donoghue knock on. Leinster scrum. Jordan Larmour down injured here - Jimmy O'Brien warming up.
That change does indeed happen.
Alex Nankivell's offload doesn't come off but the lineout goes to Munster. Ridiculous Nankivell offload gets the speedster Abrahams up the left wing once more. This is pulsating stuff.
Crowley breaks from his goal-line and clears upfield while under massive pressure. Eventually Munster win a turnover and Crowley kicks into the 22.
Munster are over for their opening try. It's a powerful score from young Brian Gleeson. Crowley pops over the extras.
Munster go through the phases, but Beirne is held up. We go back for a Munster penalty - Leinster were offside earlier in play. Andrew Porter is in for Paddy McCarthy.
Another cross-field kick to Abrahams comes off and Munster are deep in Leinster territory.
Sloppy play from both sides in last few moments but Munster, after great feet from Crowley, get Thaakir Abrahams up the wing. It ends with a Crowley attempted cross-field kick but it's blocked down and we have a Munster scrum.
That'll be the end of Smith's day - he's in hamstring trouble. Replaced by Alex Nankivell. Munster look to get over the try-line but Coughlan's pass to Edogbo is off the mark. Scrum Leinster.
Great offloading play from Crowley and Tom Farrell leads to a chip and chase by Andrew Smith. Gibson-Park only able to clear for a Munster lineout in the Leinster danger zone.
Going to the corner turns out to be the right option. Leinster get a shove on in the maul and Rónan Kelleher breaks away to score. Prendergast adds the extras.
Leinster scrum just inside the Munster 22. Another penalty advantage - which doesn't come to anything. Prendergast goes to the corner.
Fantastic Leinster team move pushes them inside the Munster 22, but McMillan's men defend well and Edwin Edogbo turns over the ball. Now back in Leinster hands after Ethan Coughlan's clearance. Frantic start at Croker.
Leinster - playing with penalty advantage from the scrum - look to attack but we'll go back after a spill by Sam Prendergast. The out-half kicks down the line to the halfway mark.
Scrum Leinster. Shane Daly knocks the ball on after Jamison Gibson-Park box kick.
And we're off, Jack Crowley kicks deep into Leinster territory.
Both teams making their way out onto the field now - led by captains Tadhg Beirne and Josh van der Flier. Kick-off approaching shortly.
Update from Brendan O'Brien at Croker: Very blustery at Croke Park this evening. Add in that open end to the stadium at Hill 16 and it will be a tricky ask for Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley off the tee. There's been a nice layer of rain left on the grass in the late afternoon as well.
Ulster have just earned a big win on their travels.
Richie Murphy's men make it back-to-back wins over South African sides, having beaten the Bulls in Belfast, they've gone to Durban and beaten the Sharks by eight points - Sharks 26 Ulster 34.
With the November internationals right around the corner, Munster's Jack Crowley and Leinster's Sam Prendergast go to battle with both aiming to impress Andy Farrell and secure the Ireland No.10 shirt.
Simon Lewis recently spoke to Cork native Crowley about his rivalry with Prendergast.
We also heard from both head coaches - McMillan and Leo Cullen - this week.
Speaking earlier this week, Former Munster out-half and current Leinster coach Tyler Bleyendaal told media that Clayton McMillan will have 'deep understanding' of how to challenge his playing staff.
Welcome to another Irish Examiner Sport liveblog - we'll talk you through the action at Croke Park as Munster take on Leinster in round four of the URC (kick-off, 5.15pm).
Leinster claimed their first win of the season at the Aviva Stadium last weekend against the Sharks, having failed to get points on the board in South Africa while Clayton McMillan's Munster sit second in the table after grinding out three hard-fought victories from their opening fixtures.
In team news, Tadhg Beirne returns to captain Munster for his seasonal debut at Croke Park, while Edwin Edogbo makes his first start since December 2023, while Leinster have welcomed back a host of British and Irish Lions, as well Springbok RG Snyman.
Jamie Osborne; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan.
Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley, Jimmy O'Brien.
Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne - captain, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson.
Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell.
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