Munster ran in seven tries to see off the challenge of Zebre Parma in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Virgin Media Park in Cork.
It was a highly entertaining encounter despite the strong wind, with some excellent rugby played by both sides in testing conditions.
Ruadhán Quinn, one of four Academy players in the matchday squad, scored his first Munster senior try after six minutes — and then added a second on the hour.
RG Snyman set him up for his opening try with a neatly delayed pass in the left corner, with Mike Haley marking his third match back after eight months out through injury with a try that put Munster 12-0 in front after as many minutes.
But Zebre Parma hit back with a try from prop Muhamed Hasa and a conversion and penalty from full-back Geronimo Prisciantelli after 22 minutes.
However, running some superb ball from deep, pushed 33-10 in front by the interval when they had the strong wind behind them.
Snyman got over for his second try for the province after 26 minutes when he scored from close range while Quinn was sin-binned, with out-half Tony Butler adding his second conversion of the night.
A good turnover from captain Alex Kendellen ended with Alex Nankivell putting Seán O’Brien in for the bonus point six minutes from the break.
But Munster didn’t relent and Antoine Frisch got their fifth try just before the interval after a quick tap from halfway by scrum-half Craig Casey.
The third quarter was scoreless but Quinn struck for his second try on the hour when he intercepted a long Zebre throw on their five-metre line, with the conversion making it 40-10.
Zebre hit back and tries from replacement scrum-half Thomas Dominguez, full-back Prisciantelli and replacement Dylan de Leeuw secured a bonus point for them.
But Munster had the final say as they made it 20 wins in a row over Zebre when Shane Daly got in for their seventh try in the final play.
Munster: Mike Haley (Preston Grasshoppers); Seán O’Brien (Mullingar RFC), Antoine Frisch (Paris Université Club), Alex Nankivell (Christchurch Boys High School), Shane Daly (Highfield RFC); Tony Butler (Ennis RFC), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC); Josh Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC), Niall Scannell (PBC Cork), John Ryan (Muskerry RFC); Tom Ahern (Youghal RFC), RG Snyman (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool); Ruadhán Quinn (Ballina-Killaloe RFC), Alex Kendellen (C) (PBC Cork), Gavin Coombes (Skibbereen RFC).
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke (CBC Monkstown) for N Scannell (51), Jeremy Loughman (Athy RFC) for J Wycherley (51), Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution FC) for Ryan (51), Fineen Wycherley (Bantry Bay RFC) for Snyman (54), Ethan Coughlan (Ennis RFC) for Casey (54), Jack O’Sullivan (Sunday’s Well RFC) for Ahern (60) , Rory Scannell (PBC Cork) for Frisch (63), Ben O’Connor (Highfield RFC) for M Haley (79).
BKT URC Round 11 Round-Up
Mike Haley was awarded the BKT Player of the Match on his 99th appearance for the province.
Four Academy players, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler and Ben O’Connor featured on the night with Quinn notching his first two tries for Munster and Butler kicking 10 points.
Munster scored seven tries on the night and move up to fifth in the URC table ahead of the weekend’s remaining matches.