Munster’s unbeaten record at home in this season’s RaboDirect PRO12 has come to an end after a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Glasgow Warriors.

Munster supporters turned up at Thomond Park tonight hoping to see their side recreate some of the magical play seen last weekend in the Heineken Cup. However, Munster’s performance fell well short of what we witnessed against Toulouse.

Warriors came into the game with a lot to play for, still chasing second spot on the table and with a game in hand. The visitors set down an early marker, dominating proceedings up front and using the maul effectively to gain territory. Jonny Gray was first to cross for Warriors after 4 minutes with Duncan Weir converting. Not rolling away from Munster gifted Glasgow another three points and left the home side with a lot to do just minutes into the game.

Munster managed to get more of the ball 10 minutes in and looked threatening out wide, notably Simon Zebo. However the Glasgow defence held tough, with Munster often forcing the pass and knocking on as a result. Unable to find a way through, JJ Hanrahan started to kick for territory in behind the opposition defence.

Munster maintained most of the possession for the next 10 minutes and as the game progressed were well able to create an overlap of numbers in the wide channels. Chris Cusiter’s foot was just enough to deny CJ Stander try number one, but minutes later the South African crashed over the line again, this time no question about the grounding – Munster 5 Warriors 10.

However, the home side were unable to kick on from here, losing Hanrahan (Keatley replaced) to injury after 21 minutes and lacking the precision and clinical finishing they displayed last weekend.

Sean Maitland exposed Munster defensively when Simon Zebo broke the line, giving the Scottish international a large gap to exploit when scoring Warrior’s second try. The visitors were equally as potent when keeping it tight, and man of the match Josh Strauss provided them with just reward for patience and phase building when he scored their third try on 38 minutes.

Munster rang in the changes throughout the second half, Kilcoyne, Murphy, Williams, MacDonald, Holland and Butler all featuring. Despite retaining most of the possession and winning the lion’s share of penalties at scrum time, repeated handling errors coupled with a strong Glasgow defence meant Munster we’re unable to reduce the visitor’s healthy lead.

A fantastic try saving tackle from Gerhard Van Den Heever spared Munster’s blushes even further, against a side who had gained the upper hand across the park, neutralising the Munster maul, using their own maul to great effect and exposing Munster out wide when they needed to.

Full time score Munster 5 Glasgow Warriors 22 – Warriors' first win on Munster soil since 2008. Tonight’s result means that Munster drop to 3rd in the table and Warriors remain 4th, just three points behind Munster and with a game in hand.

Munster: Felix Jones, Gerhard van den Heever (Johne Murphy 62), Keith Earls, James Downey, Simon Zebo, JJ Hanrahan (Ian Keatley 21), Conor Murray (Duncan Williams 68), John Ryan (Dave Kilcoyne 48), Duncan Casey (Quentin MacDonald 68), BJ Botha (John Ryan 71), Donncha O'Callaghan (Billy Holland 68), Dave Foley, CJ Stander, Sean Dougall (Paddy Butler 71), James Coughlan Capt. Replacements: Quentin MacDonald, Dave Kilcoyne, Alan Cotter, Billy Holland, Paddy Butler, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Johne Murphy.