CELTIC LEAGUE Munster (19) 49: Tries: Cullen 2, Williams, Devlin, Henderson Pens: O'Gara 5 Con: O'Gara 3 Dg: Cullen Cardiff (15) 18: Tries: Quinnell, Schubert Cons: Thomas Pens: Thomas 2 Watch the Scrum V highlights

Christian Cullen scored two tries and a dropped goal as Munster demolished the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park.

The former All Black legend was in sparkling form with Munster skipper Jim Williams, Paul Devlin and Rob Henderson also chipping in with tries.

Ronan O'Gara added five penalties and a couple of conversions for Munster.

Cardiff, though, had taken an early lead with tries by Craig Quinnell and Kort Schubert. Fly-half Lee Thomas kicked two penalties and a conversion.

Two Blues tries in the first 13 minutes from Quinnell and Schubert rocked the home side.

A quick tap by Zimbabwean Dean Dewdney caught the Munster rearguard flat-footed after only four minutes, and 20-stone Quinnell bulldozed over.

O'Gara planted a quick reply through the Blues' uprights six minutes later, but American Schubert, having charged down Peter Stringer's clearance to touch down, although like four of the game's tries, there were question marks over them.

Cullen then sprung onto the scene when he chased O'Gara's grubber through to outpace Rhys Williams on 26 minutes with O'Gara converting.

Thomas edged the visitors back in front on the half-hour but O'Gara's fourth penalty ensured a home lead at the break.

Jim Williams then added Munster's second try when he fended off the challenge of Blues skipper Martyn Williams to cross on 44 minutes.

A second Thomas penalty kept the Blues in the hunt at 29-18 down, but Munster stretched clear as Devlin scored his first try for Munster and Cullen grabbed his second when he pounced on an O'Gara kick.

He also rattled over a 68th minute drop goal before Henderson late try confirmed Munster's rise up the table.

Munster: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, T Hogan, J Williams, D Leamy, A Foley (capt).
Replacements: J Flannery, G McIlwham, T Bowman, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, P Burke, P Devlin.

Blues: C Morgan; J Vaughton, R Williams, T Shanklin, F Tuilagi; L Thomas, D Dewdney; G Jenkins, G Williams, M Jones, C Quinnell, R Sidoli, N Thomas, M Williams (capt), K Schubert.
Replacements: A Lewis, R Thomas, D Jones, N Budgett, R Smith, N Macleod, S James.

Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)