Munster secured a hard-fought 24-17 win against a strong Lions side at Thomond Park to secure fifth place in the URC table and Champions Cup rugby for next season.

Munster will now take on the Bulls in Pretoria in the URC Quarter-Final.

A big defensive set from Munster at the start of the game set the tone where a huge tackle from the men in red saw the ball dislodged and Munster win back possession. Mike Haley collected the ball and boomed a kick downfield for a 50:22. From the resulting lineout, Seán O’Brien carried hard and direct from a pacy Craig Casey pass before Evan O’Connell carried hard at the Lions defence and he had enough strength to ground the ball under the posts. JJ Hanrahan’s conversion ensured a 7-0 lead.

Munster looked to have scored their second try on the 13 minute mark but Brian Gleeson was held up over the line in what was a fine bit of defending from the visitors.

Unfortunately for Munster, the Lions punished them just moments later when Quan Horn picked off a Dan Kelly pass to run all the way to the other end of the pitch to score under the posts. Chris Smith converted to level up the game.

Munster went ahead just after the midway point of the first half when Hanrahan kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to put Munster 10-7 ahead.

Munster seffered a set back a few minutes later when Andrew Smith was sent to the bin for a deliberate knock on. Munster were then down to 13 at the 30 minute mark when Seán O’Brien was sent to the bin for the same offence as the Lions tried to send the ball wide.

With Munster down to 13, they faced a battle to keep the Lions out in the last 10 minutes of the first half. They did a brilliant job straight away as the Munster pack stopped the Lions’ maul from five metres out to win a huge scrum turnover.

Unfortunately for Munster, in the 36th minute, the Lions took advantage of the overlap and Kelly Mpeku scored under the posts which Smith converted to put the Lions 10-14 in front.

To Munster’s credit, they put some excellent passages of play together in the final five minutes of the first half which eventually led to a penalty being awared close to the Lions line. Munster opted against the three points and kicked to the corner where Clayton McMillan’s men produced a number of strong carries to get just inches from the line until Casey dummied to pass and instead sniped over the line next to the ruck to get a crucial try.

Hanrahan nailed the conversion as Munster went into the half-time break 17-14 up.

Munster looked to have scored their third try through Seán O’Brien but unfortunately the TMO intervened and adjudged to have seen Shane Daly knock to ball on in the air.

Munster went through another strong defensive set which saw a maul turnover followed by a crossing penalty concession from the visitors. The home side then went up the pitch after a series of penalties which ultimately saw Casey make a brilliant break only to be brought to ground just short of the line. The ball went through the hand to Tom Ahern and the big Waterford man powered through the tackle to cross for Munster’s third try. Hanrahan’s conversion put Munster 24-14 in front.

Smith added a penalty at the midway point of the second half to reduce Munster’s lead to seven points.

Munster defended brilliantly for the remainder of the game to secure a hard-fought and deserved win.

URC Round 18 Round-Up

Fineen Wycherley, Alex Nankivell and Jack Crowley were late withdrawals as Evan O’Connell, Shane Daly and JJ Hanrahan came into the starting XV. Gordon Wood and Ruadhán Quinn came onto the bench.

Gordon Wood made his competitive Munster debut.

Craig Casey was awarded the BKT Player of the Match.

Munster will now play the Bulls in Pretoria in the URC Quarter-Final.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell (D Barron 46′), Michael Ala’alatoa; Tom Ahern (Coombes 57′), Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson (Quinn 75′).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Gavin Coombes, Alex Kendellen, Ben O’Donovan, Gordon Wood, Ruadhán Quinn