Munster swap fireworks for fight and scrap their way past Connacht to stay perfect
BKT United Rugby Championship, Thomond Park, Limerick 25/10/2025
Munster extended their winning start to the United Rugby Championship season with a fifth straight victory under new head coach Clayton McMillan but a second derby success in a row was not as convincing as the first as they scraped past Connacht at Thomond Park.
Two tries from Saturday's matchday captain Jack O’Donoghue, either side of a score from Diarmuid Kilgallen, saw Munster maintain their 100 per cent start to 2025-26 as Connacht slipped to a third-straight defeat. However it was a close run thing, the westerners matching the try count with a double from Byron Ralston and another from captain Paul Boyle. In the end, JJ Hanrahan’s conversion of Kilgallen’s 32nd-minute score made the difference with the only two-pointer of a six-try game.
A week on from a famous bonus-point victory over a fully-loaded Leinster at Croke Park, a home derby with both sides missing their internationals was in many ways a litmus test which would better reflect the developments made during McMillan’s short reign since the summer. The former Chiefs boss had made public his desire to turn Munster into a team capable of producing consistently high-standard performances, rather than pulling out one-off highs then plummeting back down to earth a week later.
Four wins from four at the start of his three-year tenure was a satisfying return in that regard. Yet given the effort made to take down the URC champions could his objective stay on course against another interprovincial rival eager to rebound from back-to-back defeats under their new head coach Stuart Lancaster? Munster prevailed, not with the fireworks they produced in Dublin but with a grit and determination that might have been lacking in previous seasons following a significant victory.
Connacht had received a boost in midweek when back-rower Josh Murphy had his red card in last weekend’s narrow loss at home to the Bulls rescinded but were still missing Ireland players Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Finlay Bealham, and Mack Hansen.
Munster were forced to make do without captain Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and late call-up Tom Farrell but there remained plenty of quality in both line-ups to promise an entertaining derby in Limerick.
The first half alone provided plenty of talking points as the sides exchanged tries, Munster captain O’Donoghue opening the scoring on 15 minutes, Connacht wing Byron Ralston scoring two tries without reply on 19 and 28 minutes, before former Connacht wing Diarmuid Kilgallen marked his seasonal debut with an intercept try. Kilgallen expertly read fly-half Josh Ioane’s intentions to gather the ball on behind his own 10-metre line and showcased his speed to score under the posts, Hanrahan grabbing the only conversion of a five-try opening 40 minutes to hand Munster a 12-10 lead.
Home supporters thought that would be the half-time score when loosehead prop Michael Milne appeared to hold up Connacht captain Paul Boyle over the tryline. Referee Andrea Piardi indicated as much then opened a dialogue with his TMO, asking fellow Italian Matteo Liperini how to restart the game. To the dismay of the Munster crowd, Piardi came away from the conversation by awarding Connacht a try, the westerners taking a 15-12 lead into the half-time break.
Piardi left the field to a chorus of booing, Munster fans having long memories given the Test official’s mishandling of a URC game last season when he erroneously left their side shorthanded for a period against the Bulls after failing to mistake a front-row substitution for a concussion.
The crowd was duly fired up when the second half got underway while Connacht’s plans were disrupted by an injury to their double tryscorer Ralston less than three minutes after the restart.
Lancaster had named a six forwards-two backs bench and with his side losing left wing Finn Treacy to a Head Injury Assessment after just 10 minutes, replacement scrum-half Matthew Devine was forced to come in for the Australian. Ralston left the field on a motorised cart at the end of a lengthy delay, receiving oxygen as both teams went through passing drills to keep warm on a chilly night.
The delay made for a disjointed and low-quality third quarter with Munster replacement back Shay McCarthy the one bright spot. The recent academy graduate had replaced starting left wing Thaakir Abrahams after 16 minutes due to an HIA, but was as eager for work as the player he succeeded. Assured under the high ball, he caused Connacht problems with ball in hand on either flank.
Yet neither team was forced to defend inside their 22s until the 52nd minute when McCarthy’s hustle chasing a high ball forced a Connacht knock-on. From the scrum on the 22, Munster won a free-kick, Gavin Coombes charging towards the tryline. Established on the five-metre line, Hanrahan’s crossfield kick to the right wing was charged down and the frustration continued for the 16,512 crowd.
Munster needed a spark and McMillan chose to replace both his half-backs on 62 minutes, Tony Butler coming in for Hanrahan and Ethan Coughlan making way for academy scrum-half Jake O’Riordan to make his senior debut.
Butler’s first meaningful involvement was to kick Munster goalward, his penalty to the Connacht 22, providing the platform for an attacking lineout.
Munster worked their way towards to the tryline and earned a penalty advantage but it was not needed, captain O’Donoghue striking again, this time from short range with prop Jeremy Loughman providing an important shove.
Munster had a 17-15 lead with 11 minutes to maintain it and that they did, dominating possession inside the Connacht half for that remaining time to secure another precious victory.
S Daly; D Kilgallen, D Kelly, A Nankivell (JJ Hanrahan, 78 – HIA), T Abrahams (S McCarthy, 16- HIA); JJ Hanrahan (T Butler, 62), E Coughlan (J O’Riordan, 62); M Milne (J Loughman, 56), L Barron (N Scannell, 56; L Barron 65 - HIA), J Ryan (R Foxe, 65); J Kleyn, F Wycherley (E O’Connell, 59); J O’Donoghue - captain, J Hodnett (R Quinn, 46), G Coombes.
H West; B Ralston (M Devine, 43), H Gavin, C Forde, F Treacy (S Naughton, 10 - HIA); J Ioane, B Murphy; J Duggan (P Dooley, 50), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin, 62), S Illo (F Barrett, 50); J Joyce (N Murray, 33), D Murray; J Murphy, P Boyle – captain (D O’Connor, 68), S Jansen (S O'Brien, h-t).
Andrea Piardi (Italy)
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