At one stage in the second half they trailed 28-14 and were being forced to defend heroically to prevent the home side scoring a fourth try.

But prevent them they did and two Ronan O'Gara penalties and his superb conversion of Tomas O'Leary 67th minute try left just one point separating the sides.

Shane Geraghty landed a simple 74th minute penalty to leave Munster needing a try to snatch victory and only an inexplicible decision from referee Christophe Berdos stopped them claiming what would have been a remarkable win.

Awarded a penalty five metres out in injury rime, they drove for the line, were stopped and as they re-grouped, two Northampton players blatantly came in from the side, the French official deeming that a scrum to Munster was the sanction and blew the full time whistle as they're wasn't time for a scrum.

Lapses in concentration however, each side of half time were what cost Munster. At 14-14 in first time injury time Northampton were awarded apenalty, Munster turned their backs and Geraghty took a quick tap to score a seven pointer when it should have been just three.

Chris Ashton scored his second try of the evening just after the break, again the Munster defence caught flat footed, but to their great credit they stormed back and they could have been few complaints if they had snatched victory in that last play.

Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi (Ian Dowling 60 min), Jean de Villiers, Keith Earls; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley (Julien Brugnaut 66 min); Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell capt; Alan Quinlan Donncha Ryan 64 min), David Wallace, Denis Leamy. Replacements not used: Denis Fogarty, , Darragh Hurley, Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan, Peter Stringer.

Northampton Saints: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey; Bruce Reihana, Shane Geraghty; Lee Dickson, Soane Tongauiha, Dylan Hartley, Santiago Bonorino; Courtney Lawes, Juandre Kruger; Phil Dowson, Neil Best, Roger Wilson. Replacements: Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer, Brian Mujati, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mark Easter, Alan Dickens, Steve Myler, Chris Mayor.