Good Finish

In the end a satisfactory finish to the season that saw Munster recover from the disappointment of a Heineken Cup exit at quarter final stage to end up with four consecutive Magners League wins.

In total they scored 108 points in those games for the concession of just three tries, two of those coming in the final minutes of the final game against Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

The Dragons and Llanelli game a fortnight earlier were poor enough affairs but in terms of quality rugby things improved against Edinburgh at Murrayfield and even more against the Warriors on Saturday.

Perhaps central to this performance was the fact that centres Barry Murphy and Lifeimi Mafi were operating together for the fifth consecutive time while served by Ronan O’Gara for the fourth successive occasion. And as the understanding between the trio grows so too does the threat they pose to opposition defences.

On top of that there was a superb man of the match preformance from Alan Quinlan, the continuing good form of the back from injury Paul O’Connell and a hugely encouraging display at full-back from Denis Hurley. The youngster never put a foot wrong, safe as houses under the high ball and ever willing to run at the Warriors defence, he certainly looks a very exciting prospect.

Munster take a break now with the likes of Murphy, Brian Carney, Tomas O’Leary, Tony Buckley, Jerry Flannery, Frank Sheahan, Mick O’Droiscoll and Alan Quinlan already preparing for the trip to Argentina.  John O’Sullivan and Keith Earls will join up with the Ireland A squad ahead of the Churchill Cup competition that is being held this year in England.

Munster: Denis Hurley; Mossy Lawlor (B O’Meara 79 min) Barry Murphy (Shaun Payne 75 min), Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Ronan O’Gara (Jeremy Manning 75 min), Tomas O’Leary; Federico Pucciariello Frank Roche 74 min), Frank Sheahan (Denis Fogarty 70 min), Tony Buckley; Mick O’Driscoll (Donncha O’Callaghan 58 min), Paul O’Connell capt; Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, Anthony Foley (J O’Sullivan 40 min).

Glasgow Warriors: Francisco Leonelli (H O’Hare);  Rory Lamont, Graeme Morrison, Scott Barrow, Thom Evans; Dan Parks, Graeme Beveridge (C Gregor); Justin Va’a (K Tkachuk),  Scott Lawson (F Thomson), Moray Low; Andy Newman (J Eddie), Alastair Kellock capt; Steve Swindall (AWilson),  Donnie Macfadyen ( J Barclay),  John Beattie.