That they came up short because of their own alarmingly flat performance rather than any particular brilliance on Edinburgh's part is what will rankle with the defending champions as they slumped to a third Magners defeat. And just as disappointing is the fact that despite their shortcomings they could in fact have sneaked this one.

They trailed by nine points at the break thanks to three Chris Paterson penalties in a half that saw them lose the penalty count 11-2 and yet had what looked a good David Wallace score denied them by the video ref and a clear-cut Keith Earls opportunity whistled back for a forward pass that was another marginal decision.

They were however fortunate at the start of the second half when Ian Dowling missed a Phil Godman cross-field kick that ended in the clutches of a speeding Tim Visser. He looked odds-on to score only to be hauled down by the alert Jean de Villiers and when Wallace eventually dotted down in the 50th minute hopes were that this was the start of the Munster come-back.

Those hopes proved unfounded and when Munster were yet again penalised shortly after, Paterson landed his fourth successful kick to end the scoring even though there were over 20 minutes remaining.

Edinburgh were on the scoreboard right from the kick off, Munster penalised for being ahead of Tomas O'Leary when he box-kicked on his own ten metre line.

Paul Warwick tried a long range drop kick to no avail and then we had a quick counter by the Munster backs that ended with de Villiers pass to Earls adjudged forward.

A good touch find from Ronan O'Gara gave Munster the platform to launch Wallace at the line but when he was deemed to have been stopped short they managed to turn the ball over and Edinburgh relieved the pressure.

The next incursion into Munster territory earned the home side another penalty and another three points and again in injury time Paterson stepped up to slot another one.

After the early second half Visser scare, referee Morris again went 'upstairs' to see if Dowling had managed to ground his kick ahead. He hadn't but Wallace's try followed and O'Gara converted.

However, other than a difficult long range O'Gara penalty Munster's subsequent efforts to wrest control foundered in an error strewn end game.

Munster: P Warwick; I Dowling, J De Villiers, M Lifeimi, K Earls; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; Darragh Hurley, D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, N Ronan, D Leamy. D Wallace. Replacements: D Ryan for Leamy (45 mins), P Stringer for O'Leary (48 mins), D Varley for Fogarty (52 mins), S Archer for Darragh Hurley, M O'Driscoll for O'Callaghan (both 58 mins), Dennis Hurley for O'Gara (66 mins), F Jones for Dowling (75 mins).

Edinburgh: C Paterson; B Cairns , N De Luca, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair ; K Traynor , R Ford, G Cross, S Turnbull, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant , S Newlands. Replacements: A Jacobsen for Traynor (40 mins), A Kelly for Ford, A Hogg for Grant (both 58 mins), G Laidlaw for Blair (69 mins), A Turnbull for Cairns (79 mins),

Referee : G Morris (Wales)