Munster Victory Sends Them Top

Munster’s five try, 33-9 victory over Leinster sends them to the top of the Celtic League table one point ahead of Ulster who they meet in Musgrave Park on the first Saturday in December

Munster’s five try, 33-9 victory over Leinster sends them to the top of the Celtic League table one point ahead of Ulster who they meet in Musgrave Park on the first Saturday in December.

Before that however there is the little matter of the Heineken Cup and this victory, in their final game before they travel to Sale, will have provided them with a very timely morale boost.

On Sunday, once they had wrested control, there was only going to be one winner. What was surprising was that this game was gone beyond Leinster’s reach as early as the 50th minute after Ronan O’Gara had converted the try scored by Denis Leamy. After that, initially it was a matter of Munster containing Leinster which they did and then they set about claiming the bonus which came in the 66th minute from John Kelly with O’Gara again adding the extras.

Leinster meagre support may have felt the writing was on the wall at half-time when they led by just four (9-5) points having had the near gale at their backs for the opening half. While they should have have been further ahead- Felipe Contepomi pulled two penalty attempts wide – they were fortunate that Munster didn’t have a second try – Marcus Horan having opened Munster’s account – to their credit when the excellent Alan Quinlan was stopped short by Contepomi in injury time.

With Reggie Corrigan in the bin for the start of the second half Munster took advantage and control. Quinlan pounced on a loose ball inside his own 22, kicked down field and ended the sequence by scoring a try with Mick O’Driscoll helping to drive his colleague over.

Three minutes later it was game over when Denis Leamy scored under the posts, the bonus followed when Kelly scored and then O’Gara marked a superb performance when he cut through for his side’s fifth try.

Munster: Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Barry Murphy, Gary Connolly, Anthon Pitout (I Dowling 67 mins); Ronan O’Gara (Paul Burke 76 min), Tomas O’Leary (Frank Murphy 80 mins), Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan (Jerry Flannery 76 mins) Federico Pucciarello; Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll; Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy (T Hogan 76 mins), Anthony Foley capt (David Wallace 68 mins).

Referee: Simon McDowell.