It was a disappointing finish to this five-match block of the United Rugby Championship with Munster coming away empty handed from Swansea.com stadium after a fully deserved Ospreys won the clash 18-10.

Munster were guilty of too many errors throughout the encounter and the performance was compounded further with penalties conceded in the wrong areas of the field.

Stephen Myler made no mistake off the tee as he kicked six penalties while Munster’s response was a Craig Casey try converted by Jack Crowley, who also added a penalty.

There were opportunities for van Graan’s charges, but a lack of accuracy proved costly at key times.

Ospreys got off to the ideal start when converting a straightforward penalty after Munster were pinged for not releasing in the first minute.

The home side then coughed up points three minutes later with Crowley stepping up for his first penalty for the province after the hosts didn’t roll away.

While the sides were level for most of the first half indiscipline ensured the home side closed it out with two successive Myler penalties and Munster trailed by six points at the break.

On the resumption Myler was back on the tee as he knocked over a fourth penalty to extend the lead, 12-3.

Munster showed great patience to get over for the first try after 53 minutes.  Crowley kicked the men in red into the Ospreys 22 and Craig Casey was at the end of a powerful rolling maul to touch down.

The young out-half added a superb touchline conversion to reduce the deficit and bring Munster within two points.

However, moving into the final quarter the errors continued for the province and with Ospreys pressure mounting Myler, who was flawless from the tee, kicked two further penalties to extend the lead to 18-10.

With Munster chasing points as the clock wound down replacement Ben Healy was unsuccessful as he attempted two long-range penalty kicks, but the home side had done enough to deny the province.

Munster: Matt Gallagher (Damian de Allende, 59); Andrew Conway, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley (Ben Healy, 72), Craig Casey (Conor Murray, 59); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, 59), Niall Scannell (Kevin O’Byrne, 59), John Ryan (Keynan Knox, 52); Jean Kleyn (Gavin Coombes, 52), Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue (John Hodnett, 59).

United Rugby Championship Round 5 Round-Up

Out-half Jack Crowley made his first start for Munster.

John Hodnett, Conor Murray and Damian de Allende made their first appearances of the season.