Munster racked up a half century to against Cardiff at Thomond Park to book a home Celtic League quarter-final berth.

The Welsh visitors were put to the sword by the formidable Irish side which ran in eight tries in this one-sided affair.

The omens were not good for Cardiff when Munster lock Mick O'Driscoll stole the ball at the first line out in the second minute.

From then on Munster were on the charge and the turnover eventually presented the home side with a penalty in front of the posts which Ronan O'Gara despatched to open the scoring.

Cardiff levelled when Nick Robinson sent a penalty over from just inside the Munster half but from then on it was one way traffic for the Irish champions.

Welsh indiscipline following a line-out gave O'Gara the opportunity to kick for touch and from the following line-out quick hands from Peter Stringer sent in wing John Kelly for an 18th minute try which O'Gara converted.

Munster scored again shortly afterwards with a sweeping move started on their own 22 metre line by winger Anthony Horgan.

Munster moved the ball first left and then right in countless phases before Mike Mullins off-loaded to fellow centre Jason Holland to run in for the five points.

O'Gara converted and Scottish referee Rob Dickson sent Cardiff's Craig Quinnell to the sin-bin for lashing out with his boots at the proceeding ruck.

Munster however waited for Quinnell to return before adding to their score in the 39th minute.

This time Killian Keane, on for the injured Holland, kicked on O'Gara's grubber and dribbled over the line to touch down next to the posts.

Robinson missed a Cardiff penalty on the stroke of half-time to leave Munster a resounding 22-3 into the lead.

It got worse for the Welsh side after the re-start, despite O'Gara missing a 43rd minute penalty for Munster.