Munster clung on for a precious Champions Cup win against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Saturday evening as the 14 men held on to maintain qualification hopes for the round of 16.
Graham Rowntree’s side led 24-0 at half-time but had been reduced to 14 men after 22 minutes when Jack O’Donoghue was sent off for a high tackle.
Player of the Match Gavin Coombes scored two tries in the first half with O’Donoghue getting the other as Joey Carbery kicked nine points off the tee.
A second-half onslaught from Northampton followed as they chased the victory they needed to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive.
The visitors had reduced Munster’s lead to four points but Jack Crowley’s 75th minute penalty restored Munster’s seven-point lead. Northampton kicked a penalty late on instead of going to the corner as they needed a victory but Munster managed to hold up Northampton on the restart and do enough to clinch a memorable victory.
A Carbery penalty after 90 seconds put Munster in front. Coombes’ try after eight minutes was all about the pack as they won a scrum penalty and Carbery kicked to the corner. O’Donoghue was nearly over in the right corner after a trick play down the blindside with Coombes eventually scoring from a yard after a tap and go following a Northampton infringement.
Saints hooker Mike Haywood was sin-binned on 11 minutes after colliding with Carbery as the out-half chased his own chip over the Northampton midfield.
Munster made the man advantage pay just before Haywood returned as they stretched the Saints and Coombes turned provider as he committed two defenders on the left wing before a clever pass inside for O’Donoghue to score. Carbery’s conversion made it 17-0 after 21 minutes.
Northampton were back to their full complement at the restart with Munster soon down to 14 as O’Donoghue’s high tackle on David Ribbans saw the flanker red-carded.
The home support got right behind Munster with Northampton on the attack and our defence forced a knock-on as Carbery cleared past halfway.
Despite being down a man, Gavin Coombes was in for his second try and Munster’s third on 28 minutes as he scored from close range with Carbery converting for a 24-0 half-time lead.
Northampton were back in it early in the second half as their pack won a scrum penalty and Fin Smith kicked to the corner. Tommy Freeman scored in the left corner after they worked an overlap with Smith converting from a tricky angle to make it 24-7 after 46 minutes.
Another scrum penalty for Northampton on 49 minutes gave Smith his first shot at goal from distance and he made no mistake with the Munster lead reduced to 14 points with half an hour to play.
Replacement John Ryan stemmed the tide with a vital breakdown penalty with Carbery kicking into the 22 but a Northampton counter ruck allowed the visitors to clear.
The pressure was really on when Northampton got in for their second try on 56 minutes as the ball was worked to the right wing and James Ramm chipped ahead.
Carbery was on the cover and collected but Northampton piled into the ruck and Ramm darted over in the right corner. Smith’s conversion went over via the post to make it 24-17 with 23 minutes remaining.
Northampton got over the ball to win a vital penalty inches from their line to give the visitors real hope of a first win at Thomond Park.
A huge defensive effort from Munster up the other end just about kept Northampton out with a penalty for a neck roll on Frisch eventually relieving the pressure.
Smith kicked his second penalty on 71 minutes to make it 24-20 but Crowley responded with his first penalty on 75 minutes to restore the seven-point advantage.
Needing two scores, Northampton opted for the three points with the clock ticking down but didn’t get the chance for one last attack as Munster smothered them on the restart to see out the game.
Champions Cup Round 3 Round-Up
Roman Salanoa made his first Champions Cup start.
Munster have won two of their three Pool games and face Toulouse in France next Sunday at 3.15pm Irish time.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery (Rory Scannell, 57), Craig Casey (Paddy Patterson, 64); Dave Kilcoyne (Josh Wycherley, 52), Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa (John Ryan, 46); Jean Kleyn (Alex Kendellen, 60), Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (C) (John Hodnett, 64), Gavin Coombes.