The first try came in the 35th minute, at a stage when the visitors held a 7-3 lead, when Tommy O'Donnell took a superb line-out ball - after a fine Paul Warwick touchfind- ten metres out for the pack to rush irresistibly for the line with Wian du Preez getting the vital touchdown.

And the second came early in the second half, the Munster pack again showing their mauling prowess, for Quinlan to cap a fine personal performance with a try that was good enough to win this match. However, it did require a last gasp Felix Jones tackle to prevent Gloucester tying the game and possibly snatching a winner.

Overall it was a performance that found pleasure with coach Tony McGahan who felt his side had stepped up on their previous performance.

"We were disappointed with the outcome last week and there was a desire to improve on that. I think we achieved that objective. I think they worked very hard out there. There were some good individual performances but overall it was a good squad effort and gives us a boost going into the competitive arena next week."

Munster opened with a Warwick penalty after 13 minutes and looked threatening when he got the ball to debutant Johne Murphy and returning (from injury) duo Doug Howlett and Felix Jones.

A period of Gloucester pressure ended with a try for Tim Taylor who hacked through and followed up to score under the posts. The du Preez try converted by Warwick gave the home side a half time lead and Quinlan's extended in the 3rd minute of the second.

Taylor narrowed the gap with a 62nd minute penalty and then we had the best move of the game, replacement Scott Deasy setting Danny Barnes free who in turn off loaded to Jones whose marvellous break merited a try but ended just short.

Munster: F. Jones, D. Howlett, J. Murphy, S. Tuitupou, I. Dowling, P. Warwick, P. Stringer, W. du Preez, D. Varley, T. Buckley, I. Nagle, D. Ryan, A. Quinlan, D. Leamy (captain), T. O'Donnell.

Replacements: D. Fogarty for Varley (40), N. Ronan for O'Donnell (45), D. Williams for Stringer, M. O'Driscoll for Nagle (both 49), B. Holland for Quinlan, S. Archer for Buckley (55), S. Deasy for Tuitupou (59), S. Zebo for Howlett, D. Ryan for du Preez (both 64), P. O'Mahony for Leamy (68), I. Dinneen for P. Warwick, D. Barnes for Murphy (both 73).

Gloucester: O. Morgan, J. Simpson-Daniel, T. Molenaar, E. Fuimaona-Sapolu, T. Voyce, T. Taylor, R. Lawson, A. Dickinson, S. Lawson, P. Capdevielle, W. James, A. Brown, A. Strokosch, L. Narroway (captain), A. Hazell.

Replacements: D. Attwood for Brown (40), P. Buxton for Strokosch (45), B. Deacon for Narraway (48), D. Dawiduik for S. Lawson (52), H. Trinder for Fuimaono-Sapolu (56), J. Pasqualin for R. Lawson (57), Y. Thomas for Dickinson, R. Harden for Capdeveille (both 62), J. May for simpson Daniel, M. Cox for Hazell, C. Sharples for Morgan (all 66).

Referee: D. Wilkinson (IRFU)