Connacht clinched a 26-5 bonus-point win at the Dexcom Stadium on what a disappointing night for Munster.

Connacht dominated the opening 10 minutes but Munster defended bravely and held the Western province up over the line on two occassions as the home side looked to get an early try. Clayton McMillan’s men finally got territory in the Connacht half after Andrew Smith won a brilliant breakdown turnover which gave Munster a penalty.

After 12 minutes, however, the pressure finally told as Connacht scrum-half Ben Murphy spotted some space near a ruck and he scampered through untouched to score under the posts. Ben Gilbert converted to give Connacht a 7-0 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Munster as Diarmuid Barron received a yellow card and Connacht made the man advantage count when some good passing saw them release Shayne Bolton down the wing to score his side’s second try.

Incredibly, the decision in the bunker review saw that the accidental contact Barron made with the Connacht player warranted a red card. So Munster would finish the remainder of the first half with 14 men.

Munster were defending well but just couldn’t sustain any significant period of territory or possession. Connacht went further ahead when a rolling maul was too powerful for the visitors as Shamus Hurley-Langton touched down and Gilbert converted.

Munster, who entered the second half 19-0 down, almost got a try within five minutes only for the TMO to somehow adjudge that Alex Kendellen knocked the ball on when grounding the ball for what looked like an obvious try.

Munster didn’t give up and they got a deserved try with 11 minutes remaining in the match when Craig Casey went through a gap to score close to the posts which Hanrhan converted.

Unfortunately for Munster, Sean Jansen secured the bonus-point try soon after for the Westerners when he powered over from close range with Munster defending for a long period on their own line.

URC Round 17 Roundup:

Alex Kendellen made his 100th Munster appearance.

Thaakir Abrahams came in to start the game after Shane Daly was ruled out with a knock.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams (O’Brien 54′), Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C) (O’Donovan 73′); Jeremy Loughman (Wycherley 54′), Diarmuid Barron (Kendellen 37′), Michael Ala’alatoa (Bartley 70′); Edwin Edogbo (O’Donoghue 41′), Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett (L Barron 25′), Gavin Coombes (Gleeson 48′).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.