Munster fell to a 7-28 defeat to Leinster in Thomond Park as the visitors remain unbeaten in the URC.

Leinster took a 0-14 lead into the half-time break but Munster got back into the game with an early second half try through Tom Ahern. Unfortunately for Ian Costello’s side, they couldn’t get that game levelling score as Leinster pushed on with two further tries to secure a bonus-point.

Munster got off to a bright start when some positive play was rewarded with a penalty at the breakdown after two minutes which Rory Scannell kicked to the corner.

Unfortunately the lineout throw was just too high for Tadhg Beirne as Leinster cleared.

Leinster almost punished Munster soon after when from a midfield scrum, the visitors brought play into the Munster 22 but a forward pass from Robbie Henshaw stopped a promising attack.

From the resulting scrum, however, Leinster won a penalty against the head and kicked to the corner. Munster managed to stop the Leinster lineout maul but after a few phases, Luke McGrath spotted a gap and scored next to the posts. Sam Prendergast’s conversion gave Leinster a 0-7 lead.

Munster did well to engineer a good opportunity just a few minutes later with another lineout just metres from the Leinster line. This one was collected by Gavin Coombes but Leinster managed to stop the maul dead and win the turnover.

Munster were camped in the Leinster 22 and multiple penalty concessions from the visitors eventually led to a yellow card for Tommy O’Brien. Munster managed to cross the line from the resulting tap and go but unfortunately the ball was held up and Leinster had a chance to clear.

Coming towards the end of the sin-bin period, Leinster extended their lead when the ball was spread wide to Prendergast who went through a gap to score under the posts. He converted his own try to give Leinster a 0-14 lead at half-time.

On the resumption of the second half, Munster were determined to get back into the game and a series of penalty concessions from Leinster early in the second half eventually led to Tom Ahern bursting through a gap to score Munster’s first try. Burns’ conversion ensured the deficit was cut to seven points.

Unfortunately for Munster, Leinster showed their ruthless edge and responded well through a try from Josh van der Flier, the Ireland international powering through a gap close to a ruck. Prendergast’s conversion put Leinster back into a 14 point lead.

Munster tried to get that second try to bring it back to one-score game but with five minutes remaining, Caelan Doris crossed for their bonus point try which was converted by Ross Byrne to give the visitors a 7-28 win.

URC Round 9 Round-Up

Sam Prendergast was rewarded the Player of the Match.

Munster now return to European action when they welcome Saracens to Thomond Park on Saturday, 11th January.

Munster: Mike Haley (O’Connor 76′); Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns (Butler 65′), Ethan Coughlan (Patterson 50′); Dian Bleuler (Ryan 74′), Niall Scannell (Clarke HIA 23′ 36′, 73′), Oli Jager (Ryan 54′); Fineen Wycherley (Hodnett 40′), Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen (Gleeson 65′), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O’Connor.