Tony McGahan’s willingness to throw his twenty somethings into the Magners fray in the difficult surrounds of Parc Y Scarlets paid rich dividends when Munster secured a home semi final with a 13-6 win over the Scarlets last Saturday evening.

And it was one of those twenty somethings, Simon Zebo, who notched the crucial score when he pounced on a loose ball in the 68th minute to kick downfield, control and score the try that separated the sides at the final whistle. The Cork Con speedster, who celebrated his 21st birthday last month, also illuminated the first half with a brilliant 15th minute break from his own 22 that ended in the Scarlets 22 and he picked up the Man of the Match accolade for what was a good night's performance.

He must however have had stiff competition from 23 year olds Tommy O'Donnell and Stephen Archer, 22 year old Mike Sherry and two veterans of the side, skipper Denis Leamy (29) and the marvelously consistent Mick O'Driscoll. Once again their set-piece serves them extremely well, the scrum in particular providing a solid platform and even when McGahan rang the changes in the front row, it occurred with a reassuring seamlessness.

It was never a classic, Scarlets need to win to keeps their play off hopes alive not helped by a few penalty misses at crucial times by their out-half Rhys Priestland.

For their part Munster made the most of their chances while defensively they worked their socks off from minute one to eighty.

The first clear chance fell to the home side when the elegant Regan King worked the space to earn an overlap but George North failed to collect his long pass with the line at his mercy. That was really the last we saw of North as a threat though King continued to tease and tantalise but was well tracked and tethered by Lifeimi Mafi and then also Sam Tuitupou when he arrived as a 41st minute replacement for Declan Cusack who sustained a shoulder injury.

Priestland kicked the Scarlets in front with an 18th minute penalty just after that great Zebo break and then it was Paul Warwick who carved open the Scarlets defence to instigate a move that ended with Cusack being pushed into touch five metres out.

A 39th Warwick penalty tied it up and the Stade Francais bound playmaker kicked his side in front in injury time.

Priestland should have leveled earlier than the 51st minute and then when Scarlets tried to counter from their own 22 Zebo was on hand to punish the mistake with Warwick landing a marvellous touchline conversion.

Priestland was wide again in the 74th minute and the home side launched a series of attacks in a desperate effort to salvage their season but Munster continued to defend like dervishes to emerge worthy winners.

Munster: P Warwick; S Zebo, J Murphy (S Deasy 44th min), L Mafi, D Barnes; D Cusack (S Tuitupou 41st min), P Stringer (D Williams 68th min) ; M Horan (D Hurley 66th min), M Sherry (D Fogarty 55th min), S Archer (J Hayes 55th min); D Ryan, M O'Driscoll; T O'Donnell, N Ronan (A Quinlan 57th min), D Leamy capt.

Scarlets: M Stoddart; G North, R King, G Maule, S Lamont; R Priestland, T Knoyle; I Thomas, M Rees capt, R Thomas; L Reed, J Turnbull; R McCusker, J Edwards, D Lyons. Replacements: E Phillips, R Jones, S Gardiner, A Shingler, D Welch, G Davies, S Jones, S Williams.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).