Munster secured a bonus-point win in the first game of the Guinness PRO14 season at a wet Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon with Arno Botha, Jack O’Donoghue, Shane Daly, Tyler Bleyendaal and Diarmuid Barron touching down.
JJ Hanrahan kicked two penalties and four conversions with the Dragons putting it up to Munster but the hosts proved too strong.
Four Academy players featured in the clash, Barron, Keynan Knox, Jack O’Sullivan and Liam Coombes. Knox, O’Sullivan and Nick McCarthy made their competitive Munster debuts with Barron scoring his first Munster try.
Dragons started well with debutant Sam Davies kicking the visitors into an early lead.
After withstanding more Dragons pressure, Munster hit the front on 18 minutes as Botha managed to ground the ball with a well-organised rolling maul putting Munster in position.
Hanrahan converted and added his first penalty shortly after to push Munster 10-3 ahead.
Dragons kept in the hunt with Davies’ second penalty but Richard Hibbard’s yellow card for a dangerous tackle on O’Donoghue handed the initiative back to Munster for the final 10 minutes of the half.
Johann van Graan’s side took advantage in clinical fashion as O’Donoghue grounded from close range after a strong period of Munster pressure on 32 minutes.
The try was awarded after a lengthy consultation with the TMO and Hanrahan’s conversion gave Munster a 17-6 lead.
Daly scored the try of the game on 35 minutes as McCarthy swung the ball left to the winger and he chipped over the top and grounded expertly. Hanrahan shaved the post with his touchline conversion and Munster led 22-6.
Davies knocked over his third penalty to reduce the deficit at the break, 22-9.
Hanrahan’s second penalty shortly after the interval gave Munster a 25-9 lead before Mike Haley was sent to the bin for a high tackle.
Excellent Munster defence from the 14 men kept Dragons out and excellent work from Kevin O’Byrne, on his 50th appearance, created the bonus-point try just before the hour.
First, he put Rory Scannell into space before setting up Bleyendaal for the fourth try with Tyler finishing strongly under the posts.
Hanrahan added the extras and Barron scored off a late rolling maul to end the game on a high.
The Munster squad depart for South Africa on Sunday for away games against Southern Kings and Cheetahs. The province’s next home game takes place at Irish Independent Park as Ospreys visit Cork on Friday, October 25 (7.35pm). Buy tickets here.
Guinness PRO14 Round 1 Round-Up
Four Academy players featured for Munster – Diarmuid Barron, Keynan Knox, Jack O’Sullivan and Liam Coombes.
Knox, O’Sullivan and Nick McCarthy made their competitive Munster debuts.
Barron scored his first Munster try in the clash.
Kevin O’Byrne made his 50th Munster appearance.
James Cronin featured in the PRO14 for the first time since November after recovering from injury.
Munster: Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Rory Scannell, Tyler Bleyendaal (Liam Coombes, 63), Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Nick McCarthy (Alby Mathewson, 62); Jeremy Loughman (James Cronin, 62), Kevin O’Byrne (Diarmuid Barron, 72), Stephen Archer (Keynan Knox, 66); Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland (C) (Darren O’Shea 66); Jack O’Donoghue (Jack O’Sullivan, 72), Tommy O’Donnell (Chris Cloete, 66), Arno Botha.