Munster competed the pre-season programme with a 40-31 loss to Connacht at the Sportsground as Rory Scannell, Shane Daly (two), Rhys Marshall and Alby Mathewson touched down.
Academy players Alan Tynan and Jonathan Wren made their senior debuts in the clash with eight Academy debuts over the past two weekends.
The Guinness PRO14 kicks off next weekend as Munster host Dragons at Thomond Park on Saturday at 3pm. See ticket details here.
A late change to the Munster side announced on Friday saw Darren Sweetnam drop out as a precaution with Liam Coombes slotting into the starting XV on the wing.
Munster trailed 7-5 at the interval as a converted Caolin Blade try gave Connacht the lead before 13-man Munster hit back through Rory Scannell.
Munster had been reduced to 14 when James Cronin was sin-binned for offside after an accumulation of Munster penalties. Darren O’Shea then slipped into Jarrad Butler as he collected a restart and also saw yellow.
Scannell’s try was set up by a fantastic Kevin O’Byrne break and show-and-go with Nick McCarthy also contributing to the score.
A quick-fire Connacht double at the start of the second half gave Connacht a 21-5 lead before Daly crossed for his first try after picking a good line and taking Tyler Bleyendaal’s pass.
Marmion and Peter Robb hit back with a try apiece before Munster crossed through Rhys Marshall’s score off a rolling maul.
Liam O’Connor’s superb offload set up Mathewson for Munster’s fourth try to get Munster back in the hunt but Marmion scored his second to put the result beyond doubt.
Munster kept going and Daly crossed for his second try in the last play with Bleyendaal adding his third conversion.
31 Munster players featured in the clash with the Guinness PRO14 kicking off next Saturday.
Guinness PRO14 Opener
Saturday, September 28
Munster v Dragons, Thomond Park, 3pm; Buy tickets here
