The home side were reduced to 14 at the start of the second half when thir flanker Gareth Gravell was sin-binned, Hanrahan's subsequent penalty pushing Munster into a seven point lead.

In the 55th minute, a quick tap and go from scrum-half Duncan Williams ended in a try for Zebo with Hanrahan once again adding the extras and though Munster had to withstand a late Neath onslaught their defence held up admirably.

Munster: L O'Dea; R O'Mahoney, C Hircock, T Gleeson, S Zebo; JJ Hanrahan, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, S Henry, S Archer; D Foley, I Nagle; B Holland capt, T O'Donnell, P Butler. Replacements: A Cotter, D Casey, B Hayes, B O'Hara, P Stringer, J Holland (Cork Con), D Moroney (UL Bohs).