Munster secured a record PRO14 victory over Ulster after a dominant performance at Thomond Park on Saturday night.
Nine tries secured the win in a vibrant attacking performance with Joey Carbery awarded Man of the Match.
A brace of tries each for Dan Goggin and Tommy O’Donnell in the first half set Munster on their way with Peter O’Mahony, Carbery, Sammy Arnold, Keith Earls and Alex Wootton touching down after the break.
Carbery kicked 13 points and Ian Keatley added six points with Munster travelling to face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
A late change for Munster saw winger Wootton come into the side in place of Mike Haley with Andrew Conway moving to full-back.
Although a late inclusion, Wootton did brilliantly to set up the opening try as Goggin’s blocked grubber bounced into Conway’s hands and he released Wootton for a scorching break up the left.
With just a man to beat, Wootton popped to Goggin on his shoulder to finish and Carbery’s conversion made it 7-0 after five minutes.
An excellent start became a perfect one three minutes later as O’Donnell burst through a gap in the Ulster defence and showed superb pace to finish in the left corner with Carbery again on target for a 14-0 lead.
A quick lineout taken quarterback style by debutant Alby Mathewson launched another Munster attack as the hosts dominated early on with excellent work at the breakdown by Peter O’Mahony giving Carbery the opportunity to kick three more points.
The out-half duly dispatched the long-range effort and Munster led 17-0 with 16 minutes gone.
The third try was scored just past the half hour with O’Donnell finishing off after powerful play from the pack. The chance was earned after Munster won a scrum penalty with Carbery kicking for the left corner.
The lineout was good, the rolling maul was very good and O’Donnell was unstoppable from close range. Carbery’s conversion came back off the near post and the Munster lead was 22 points.
The bonus-point try was scored by Goggin after 37 minutes as Munster pounded away at the Ulster line with Billy Holland among the players stopped inches short of the line. Stephen Archer popped the ball to the backs with Carbery sending Goggin over for the fourth try and Munster were 29-0 ahead at half-time.
Ulster came out firing after the interval and Darren Cave burst through the streched Munster defence after 46 minutes to get his side off the mark. Billy Burns converted to cut Munster’s advantage to 22 points.
Munster looked to quell the comeback immediately and after a rampant maul up the right flank, the ball went to the opposite wing with Wootton stopped just short of the line. The Ulster respite was brief though as Carbery looped a super pass for O’Mahony to dive over in the right corner with the out-half on target from the touchline.
Carbery scored his first try at Thomond Park after excellent work from Goggin and Wootton with Carbery collecting a looping Wootton pass to streak clear and score.
Replacement Arnold scored the next try after he pounced on a Wootton chip behind the defence before Earls crossed after Duncan Williams and Holland combined.
The win was rounded off by a Wotton try with Keatley’s touchline conversion capping off an outstanding performance.
Guinness PRO14 Round Five Round-Up
It was a record PRO14 victory for Munster, the previous best was a 47-0 win over Zebre in 2016.
Joey Carbery was awarded Man of the Match.
Alby Mathewson made his Munster debut in the clash.
Alex Wootton, Keith Earls, Niall Scannell, Kevin O’Byrne and Ciaran Parker made their first appearances of the campaign.
Munster: Andrew Conway; Alex Wootton, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell (Sammy Arnold, 64), Keith Earls; Joey Carbery (Ian Keatley, 66), Alby Mathewson (Duncan Williams, 52); Dave Kilcoyne (James Cronin, 52), Niall Scannell (Kevin O’Byrne, 64), Stephen Archer (Ciaran Parker, 64); Tadhg Beirne (Jean Kleyn, 58), Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell (Arno Botha, 64), CJ Stander.
Next Home Game
Heineken Champions Cup
Saturday, October 20
Munster v Gloucester, Thomond Park, 1pm; Buy tickets here