Munster’s excellent run was brought to a halt in front of their home support as Scarlets came form behind to take the spoils at Thomond Park in round 16 of the Guinness PRO12.
Munster led 21-6 at the interval but it was the visitors who got on top in the second-half to put a halt to Munster's winning season at Thomond Park.
Dan Jones gave Scarlets an early lead with a penalty, but Munster responded in an impressive manner going on to dominate the opening forty with three converted tries as Tyler Bleyendaal pulled the strings from outhalf.
Full-back Jaco Taute got Munster’s opening try after 13 minutes after Bleyendaal put Dave O’Callaghan through the middle before the ball was spun wide by Francis Saili and Conor Oliver for Taute to score his eighth try of the season.
Darren Sweetnam got the province's second after 23 minutes, scoring in the right corner after Taute turned provider on this occasion.
Munster again crossed six minutes later with academy player Conor Oliver scoring after a great break by fellow academy player and centre Dan Goggin as he linked up with Ronan O'Mahony who was just stopped short of the line. Quick ruck ball from Duncan Williams found Oliver charging for the line.
Playing with the wind Tyler Bleyendaal converted all three tries to lead 21-6 at the interval.
With the elements against them in the second half Munster suffered their worst ten minute period of the season, coughing up 24 unanswered points to the Welsh opposition, and were unable to secure any points for their own part.
Dan Jones got his third penalty early in the second-half and then converted a try from his captain Hadleigh Parkes to reduce the gap to five.
A try from Johnny McNicholl after 58 minutes drew the sides level before Jones’ conversion edged Scarlets in front.
The scoreboard had just ticked over before the Llanelli side were again crossing the whitewash with Tom Williams claiming Scarlets’ third try 19 minutes from the end. Jones' conversion pushed Munster out of bonus point territory and a late rally proved fruitless when Dave Kilcoyne's attempt to touch down was confirmed short of the line.
Guinness PRO12 round 16 round-up: Academy player Conor Oliver made his first start at number 8, while academy lock Fineen Wycherley was included in his first PRO12 squad, named in the replacements. In total there were four academy representatives in the matchday squad – Conor Oliver, Dan Goggin, Brian Scott, Fineen Wyherley.
Despite the result Tyler Bleyendaal was awarded the MOTM for this first half efforts.
This was Munster's first defeat in Thomond Park since December '15 v Leinster, and third PRO12 defeat of the season. The province dropped to second in the table after failing to pick up any points from the home encounter.
Munster: J Taute (Conway 53); D Sweetnam, F Saili, D Goggin, R O’Mahony; T Bleyendaal, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, R Marshall (O'Byrne 63), S Archer (Scott 66); D Foley (O'Shea 67), B Holland; D O’Callaghan, T O’Donnell, C Oliver.