Tries in the opening half from Barry Keeshan and Mark Melbourne helped Munster establish a 12-0 advantage by the interval.

Things improved further in the second half when James Coughlan, a half-time replacement for Frank Cogan scored his side's third try - set up by a superb touchline run from replacement Ciaran O'Boyle operating on the wing. - but then Munster took their foot off the pedal and allowed Leinster back into the game.

Prompted by Brian O'Meara at the base of the scrum Leinster roared back and scored three tries without reply - Stephen Grissing, David Blaney and John Lyne their scorers - to go into a 21-19 lead but Munster responded in impressive fashion to run in three tries of their own and each out of the top drawer.

Coughlan scored his second, Touhy added try number five and Pitout rounded off an impressive personal performance with the sixth and final try.

Munster: Denis Hurley; Brian Touhy, Mossy Lawlor, Paul Devlin, Anthon Pitout; Barry Keeshan (Ciaran O'Boyle), Mike Prendergast (Frank Murphy); Eugene McGovern, Damien Varley (Robert Quinn), Tony Buckley (Mike Ross); Ryan Hartigan, Brian Madigan Colin O'Keeffe); Mark Melbourne (Anthony Kavanagh), John E O'Connor, Frank Cogan (James Coughlan).