Munster continue on winning ways in the Magners League as they overcome the Connacht challenge in Thomond Park tonight, winning 25-10.
Munster maintained their push for Magners League honours with a 25-10 win over Connacht in Thomond Park Stadium.
They held a commanding 20-3 lead at half time thanks to first half tries from impressive duo Barry Murphy and Doug Howlett, Murphy scoring the first try and then turning provider for Howlett to score the second in the right hand corner.
Paul Warwick converted that score from the touchline in the course of another impressive performance albeit this time around from the fly-half position.
Connacht started the second half in determined fashion and were full value for their three point lead after Ian Keatley kicked a penalty having been wide with an earlier effort.
Warwick levelled shortly after and then added the points to Murphy’s try when the centre ghosted past the tackle of Fionn Carr.
Warwick extended Munster’s lead with another superb penalty and then added the extras to Howlett’s try.
Munster failed to claim the kick off from the restart and gave Connacht a foot hold that they made the most of when Carr touched down to the right of the posts but Munster’s response was to march them back downfield for Federico Pucciariello to score his side’s third try.
Warwick dragged the conversion right of the uprights and a dogged Connacht defence denied the home side the try that would have given them the bonus point.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, B Murphy, K Earls, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O’Driscoll (capt), D Ryan; N Williams, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: L Mafi for D Hurley (63 mins), B Holland for N Williams (68 mins), M Essex for D Fogarty (76 mins). Denis Leamy (77 mins) no replacement.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; A Browne, A Farley; J Muldoon (capt), J O’Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: D Gannon for C Rigney, M Deane for T Nathan (both half-time), M Swift for A Browne (54 mins), A Flavin for S Cronin (54 mins), B McGovern for R Loughney (60 mins), C O’Loughlin for F Murphy (73 mins), R Lougney for B Wilkinson (75 mins).
Referee: J Jones (WRU).