Munster had turned over possession in the Ospreys 22 with minutes remaining, to find themselves desperately scrambling to defend their own line. They conceded a penalty and lost Lifeimi Mafi to a yellow card but rather than opt for a scrum platform, where they'd been dominant all day, Ospreys launched a series of tap and go efforts that, to their great credit, Munster managed to defend.

In a game that Munster yet again outscored the Ospreys two tries to one, the outcome possibly hinged on the period immediately after the restart when they pounded the Ospreys line but came away with nothing other than the dismisssal of a try claim by the man upstairs

At that stage they trailed 13-10 and shortly after Dan Biggar's unerrring boot put six points between the sides. Then Munster scored their second try when Doug Howlett made the initial headway up the touchline before delivering a beautiful kick ahead that Keith Earls collected to score out wide.

Ronan O'Gara's conversion came back off the upright and another Biggar penalty left Munster requiring a try to overturn that lead.

It proved beyond them and leaves them needing a win in Toulon in January and another against London Irish a week later if they're to be playing Heineken Cup rugby in the spring.

In front of a 12,000+ crowd, comprising a huge and vocal Munster contingent, Munster drew first blood when O'Gara landed a 4th minute penalty. Biggar replied in kind before Sam Tuitupou shreded the Ospreys defence in a move that ended in a try for Tony Buckley under the posts.

It was a lead that didn't last long as Mike Phillips burrowed over for Biggar to add the points and just before the breask the Ospreys out-half kicked a penalty for a three point lead.

Ospreys survived that early second half pressure and a 54th minute Biggar penalty made it a six point game before Earls try three minutes later offered Munster more than a glimmer of hope.

However, they were unable to improve on that and Biggar's 100% kicking record continued with a penalty that left Munster, not so much a mountain to climb, but a hill that proved far too steep.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou (L Mafi 66), J Murphy; R O'Gara, T O'Leary (P Stringer 55); W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley (J Hayes 53); D O'Callaghan (D Ryan 70), M O'Driscoll; J Coughlan (A Quinlan 55), Wallace, Leamy

Ospreys: B Davies (Bishop 77), N Walker, T Bowe, J Hook, R Fussell; D Biggar, M Phillips, James (D Jones 65), R Hibbard, A Jones; R Jones (I Gough 65), A-W Jones; J Collins, M Holah, J Thomas

Referee: R Poite (Fra)