A Tyler Bleyendaal penalty in the final play saw Munster snatch a losing bonus-point after a strong second-half comeback in the Welsh capital as Cardiff Blues ran out deserving winners of this Guinness PRO14 clash.

Chris Cloete scored a first-half try as Munster trailed 19-5 at the interval with a Stephen Fitzgerald converted try and penalties from Ian Keatley and Bleyendaal securing a point for Munster.

Munster remain in second place of Conference A in the Guinness PRO14 with leaders Glasgow Warriors visiting Irish Independent Park next Friday (7pm) – tickets available here.

Having made 10 changes to the side that beat Zebre 33-5 last weekend, Munster were unable to generate much momentum early on although Keatley did get a penalty opportunity after a Cardiff offside but the kick sailed left of the posts.

The Blues then enjoyed a golden eight-minute period with the hosts clinically scoring three tries to streak into a 19-point lead. The first try arrived on 18 minutes as Macauley Cook crossed in the right corner after a looping pass from Ellis Jenkins with the initial inroads coming down the short side after a clever lineout move.

Scrum-half Lloyd Williams was the next to cross as he was able to block down Duncan Williams’ box kick and collect the loose ball to race over for Cardiff’s second try in the right corner just five minutes after their first.

Jarrod Evans converted superbly and kicked his second conversion moments later as the Blues were in again on 26 minutes with a Rey Lee-Lo kick in behind gathered by Owen Lane to give Cardiff a 19-0 lead.

The visitors did well to recover their composure after that onslaught with Cloete hitting back with Munster’s first try after 33 minutes. The score came from a rolling maul after Cardiff conceded a number of penalties with Munster going for the corner. Cloete did superbly to score as the Munster pack were stopped just short of the line and the flanker burrowed his way over from a few yards out.

Trailing by 14 at the break, Munster came flying out the blocks for the second half and Keatley’s first penalty on 43 minutes made it 19-8. A sustained period of pressure yielded Munster’s second try with Fitzgerald crossing as Keatley’s conversion narrowed the gap to just five points with Cardiff’s Matthew Rees in the sin bin.

With less than half an hour remaining, Johann van Graan’s side were back in it but Cardiff managed to steady the ship with out-half Evans slotting a 67th-minute penalty to give the hosts some breathing room.

A second Evans penalty with four minutes to go looked like it would leave Munster empty-handed but a late surge ended with Bleyendaal holding his nerve to kick a last-gasp penalty to secure a losing bonus-point.

PRO14 Round 15 Round-Up

In leading Munster, Jack O’Donoghue became the first Waterford player to captain the province in the professional era.

Gerbrandt Grobler made his first start in the Guinness PRO14.

Stephen Fitzgerald and Ronan O’Mahony made their first starts of the season.

Munster: Stephen Fitzgerald; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony (Simon Zebo, 56); Ian Keatley (Tyler Bleyendaal, 61), Duncan Williams (James Hart, 69); Dave Kilcoyne (James Cronin, 54), Rhys Marshall (Mike Sherry, 61), John Ryan (Stephen Archer, 54); Gerbrandt Grobler, Darren O’Shea (Jean Kleyn, 54), Jack O’Donoghue (C), Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland (Dave O’Callaghan, 69).

Next home game

Guinness PRO14: Munster v Glasgow Warriors, Irish Independent Park, Fri 23 Feb, 7pm; Tickets from just €7 with Family packs (two adults and two children) available for just €40. Tickets available online, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 061 421103.