Munster ease past Cardiff to go top
A powerful second-half display saw Munster move to the top of the Pro12 table with 33-16 victory over a spirited Cardiff Blues.
With the Ospreys falling to Edinburgh on Friday and Glasgow Warriors yet to play, scores from Denis Hurley, Jack O'Donoghue and Ronan O'Mahony were enough to see the Irish province climb to the Pro12 summit.
Josh Navidi crossed the whitewash in response for the Blues, but they were generally outclassed by a Munster side who will be starting to turn their eyes to a key league clash with Glasgow in a fortnight's time.
The hosts enjoyed the early pressure at Irish Independent Park, and although JJ Hanrahan saw his opening shot at goal come back off the uprights, good awareness by O'Mahony on the chase secured an easier opportunity that the flyhalf duly converted.
Cardiff, who were looking to kick-start an inconsistent Pro12 campaign, responded well to going behind. Cory Allen and Richard Smith both produced scintillating breaks, and Munster's indiscipline under pressure soon saw them fall 9-3 behind, Rhys Patchell slotting three kicks at goal to quickly match his personal tally from November's reverse fixture.
Blues skipper Matthew Rees left the field after half an hour through injury, and by the time his teammates had joined him in the changing room at half time, they had been pegged back by the hosts, two more Hanrahan penalties making the scores level at the interval.
While the first half was a tight and attritional affair, the game sparked into life after the break, with Hurley crossing for the opening try.
O'Donoghue used his strength to make the original break, and following some tidy O'Mahony footwork, the Munster captain crashed over the line from close range. Hanrahan obliged with the extras to stretch the score to 16-9.
The hosts bagged their second try of the night on the hour mark, with O'Donoghue, making his first start, providing the finishing touch to a flowing Munster break from deep within their own 22. Hanrahan was again successful from the tee, and the hosts appeared to have secured their third win in four league matches.
But Cardiff, who spoke in the week of finding the steely edge to see out tight games, were not bowed, and Navidi powered over to drag his side back into contention, Patchell making the score 23-16 with his conversion.
The next points were crucial, and following another Hanrahan penalty, it was the influential O'Mahony who went over for the decisive score in the final minute.
The scorers:
For Munster:
Tries: Hurley, O'Donoghue, O'Mahony
Cons: Hanrahan 3
Pens: Hanrahan 4
For Cardiff Blues:
Try: Navidi
Con: Patchell
Pens: Patchell 3
Teams:
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Luke O'Dea, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Denis Hurley (captain), 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Rory Scannell, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Jack O'Donoghue, 7 Dave O'Callaghan, 6 Sean Dougall, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Shane Buckley, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Darren Sweetnam, 23 Ivan Dineen.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Macauley Cook, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa'ao Filise, 19 Miles Normandale, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Tom Isaacs
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), Dunx McClement (Scotland)
TMO: David Changleng (Scotland)