Munster finished off the opening block of URC games unbeaten after earning a gritty and hard-fought 17-15 win over Connacht at Thomond Park.

First half tries from Jack O’Donoghue and Diarmuid Kilgallen, one of which was converted by JJ Hanrahan, saw Munster trail by three points at the break after Connacht scored three tries through Byron Ralston (x2) and Paul Boyle.

Munster had much more of the ball in the second half but found Connacht really difficult to break down until O’Donoghue barged his away over from close range for his second try to secure the win.

It was Connacht who took the game to Munster in the opening couple of minutes. The Westerners went through over 20 phases in the Munster half but Clayton McMillan’s side defended aggressively with discipline to eventually force a knock on from the visitors.

From the resulting scrum, Dan Kelly kicked into space and a mistake in the Connacht backfield saw the visitors tackled on their own try line. However, as Munster put pressure on the Connacht ball-carrier, the TMO interjected and gave Connacht a penalty with the original decision being a 5m scrum to Munster after Connacht knock on.

Five minutes later, Munster had a good opportunity with a lineout in the Connacht 22 but the men from the west stole the ball to relieve the pressure. Moments later, a promising move involving Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly and Thaakir Abrahams brought play into the Connacht 22 but the visitors managed to reclaim possession.

Approaching the 15-minute mark, a missed touch from Connacht allowed Munster, through Shane Daly, to run the ball back at them. A number of offloads saw Diarmuid Kilgallen make ground down the West Terrace touchline before the ball was spread wide to the other side of the pitch. Quick hands from Alex Nankivell released Dan Kelly who powered through the Connacht defence before he drew in the last man and released captain Jack O’Donoghue who ran in for the game’s opening try. Hanrahan’s conversion was just wide as Munster took a 5-0 lead.

Five minutes later, Connacht got back into the game when a lovely offload from Josh Ioane found Byron Ralston who dotted down. Cathal Forde missed the conversion as the sides went level at the midway point of the first half.

Eight minutes later, indiscipline from Munster allowed Connacht good territory in their 22 and eventually this led to a big overlap when a skip pass found Ralston who crossed for his second try.

Connacht then allowed Munster right back into the game when a sloppy pass was picked off by Diarmuid Kilgallen and the winger, on his return from injury, scored next to the posts to level the game before Hanrahan’s conversion pushed Munster into a two point lead.

However, it was Connacht who had the last laugh before half-time when a rolling maul from the visitots was adjudged to have resulted in a try from the referee with the credit going to Paul Boyle. Sean Naughton missed the conversion as Connacht took a 12-15 lead going into the sheds.

In the opening few minutes of the second half, there was a lengthy delay as Byron Ralston was removed on a stretcher. Munster Rugby would like to wish him a swift recovery.

It was all Munster for the second half but McMillan’s side couldn’t get that much needed try until the 67th minutes. A number of close range carries eventually saw O’Donoghue power his way over for his second try. Tony Butler missed the conversion which saw Munster take a two-point lead.

Munster could have secured a bonus-point but Connacht won a breakdown turnover a few metres from their own line. The Westerners made their way up the pitch but a pressure from Munster saw Connacht knock the ball in which resulted in the referee blowing his whistle for full time.

BKT URC Round 5 Round-Up

Munster have won all five of their opening URC games earning 23 points from a possible 25.

Munster are joined top of the URC table with the DHL Stormers.

Munster will now take on an Argentina XV next Saturday in Thomond Park. Buy tickets here. 

Alex Nankivell was the BKT URC Player of the Match. #

Academy scrum-half Jake O’Riordan made his senior Munster debut in the second half.

Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams (McCarthy 16′); JJ Hanrahan (Butler 62′), Ethan Coughlan (O’Riordan 62′); Michael Milne, Lee Barron (Scannell 56′ Barron 65′), John Ryan (Foxe 65′); Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett (Quinn 47′), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhan Quinn, Jake O’Riordan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.