Munster duly booked a home Celtic League quarter-final tie at the end of November as they completed their expected win over bottom club Caerphilly at Thomond Park.

Last season's beaten finalists had too much power and craft for the Welsh part-timers, who battled bravely in driving wind and rain, but were always on the back foot.

Munster picked up a bonus point as well, scoring seven tries to keep the 2,500 crowd happy, though handling mistakes were inevitable given the wretched conditions.

Half-time replacement Eddie Halvey was stopped short of the line, but Galwey in support crashed over for a try which Ronan O'Gara converted for 24-0.

As Caerphilly tired Munster piled on the agony. Just after the hour Marcus Horan crashed over in the right corner following sustained pressure to make it 29-0.

Then seven minutes from the end lock Mick O'Driscoll had his moment of glory for try number six which O'Gara converted for a 36-0 advantage.

Dominic Crotty weaved his way over for a seventh try in stoppage time. Munster struck for their first try after just three minutes.

Mick O'Driscoll won a line-out close to the Caerphilly line and hooker Frank Sheahan barged over with O'Gara missing the conversion.

Munster made it 10-0 five minutes later again following a line-out take, this time by Galwey.

O'Gara popped the ball to Mike Mullins, who crossed after a number of weak tackles.

Sin-binned

A third try duly followed after 17 minutes following an intricate back-row move with skipper Anthony Foley prominent.

Flanker Alan Quinlan touched down and O'Gara converted to complete the first-half scoring.

Both teams had players sin-binned after 27 minutes, when Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer and Caerphilly flanker Joel El Abd clashed at the base of a ruck near the visitors' line.

Caerphilly rarely ventured into Munster territory, finding the home defence too tough a nut to crack as they went down to a seventh defeat in pool games this season.

Munster: D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, A Quinlan, A Foley, capt. Reps: S Kerr, J Blaney, E Halvey, P Malone, M Prendergast, D Malone, K Keane, J O'Neill.

Caerphilly: S. Tuipoluto; R. Howells, S. Cox, R. Boobyer, Taumaholo Taufehema; J. Murphy, S. Headington; L. Manning, C. Ferris (capt), R. Skuse, M. Workman, N. Rouse, Hocking, J. El Abd, A. Williams.
Reps: F. McLoughlin, O. Ashman, S. Goddard, P. Jones, G. Liddon, G. Williams.

Referee: M Hall (Scotland)