Connacht (7) 12
Tries: O'Connor, Naoupu Con: Keatley
Munster (11) 18
Tries: Ronan, Deasy Con: Warwick Pens:Warwick 2

Connacht's Fionn Carr is tackled by Munster's Simon Zebo in Galway

Munster stayed firmly on course for the Magners League play-offs by winning in Galway to dent Connacht's hopes of securing Heineken Cup qualification.

Paul Warwick kicked Munster's second-string 6-0 ahead but Johnny O'Connor's try helped Connacht move 7-6 up.

Tries from Niall Ronan and Scott Deasy on either side of half-time put Munster into a 18-7 advantage.

George Naoupu's try gave Connacht hope but they had to be content with a bonus point despite their late pressure.

There was plenty at stake with Connacht hoping to edge closer to a Heineken Cup place and Munster's largely young guns aiming to impress ahead of the upcoming European semi-final against Biarritz.

An exciting first half saw Connacht's lively backline throw the ball around at every opportunity in an attempt to counter Munster's obvious superiority in the forwards.

Munster's early dominance yielded two successful penalties for Paul Warwick.

However, Connacht replied in dramatic fashion in their first attack as Sean Cronin's burst and Naoupu's superb lay-off setting up former Ireland flanker O'Connor to score.

Keatley's conversion edged Connacht 7-6 ahead to the delight of the vocal home crowd.

Munster badly needed scores before the break as they were playing with a huge first-half wind advantage.

Their breakthrough did come in the 31st minute as breaks from Nick Williams and a rampaging Tony Buckley set up Niall Ronan to score in the corner after Warwick's looped pass.

At 11-7 down at the break, Connacht still looked in a healthy position but Munster struck a massive blow seconds after the resumption as another Williams charge set up Deasy to score unopposed.

Warwick added the conversion to increase Munster's lead to 18-7.

As Munster's pack gained a stranglehold, the visitors had chances to put the game beyond Connacht.

However, Connacht held out and regrouped to hit back with Naoupu's try on the hour after Munster's Simon Zebo had been sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

Sensing a chance to grab the win which would have brought them to within a point of Ulster in the league table, Connacht were camped in the Munster 22 in the closing stages but the visitors held out to clinch the win.

The result was Connacht's first home defeat in all competitions since September.

Connacht: Duffy, Nathan, Ta'auso, Matthews, Carr, Keatley, F Murphy, Wilkinson, Cronin, Hagan, Swift, Upton, Muldoon, O'Connor, Naoupu. Replacements: Wynne for Ta'auso 72, Nikora for Keatley 48, O'Loughlin for F Murphy 72, Loughney for Wilkinson 48, Flavin for Cronin 62, McCarthy for Swift 49, McComish for Muldoon 72.

Munster: Deasy, Zebo, Gleeson, Warwick, Barnes, Cusack, Stringer, D Ryan, Varley, Buckley, O'Driscoll, Holland, N Williams, Ronan, Coughlan. Replacements: Manning for Cusack 74, Fogarty for Varley 62, Brugnaut for Buckley 62, P O'Mahony for Holland 67, Foley for N Williams 53.
Not Used: Murray, Scanlon.

Attendance: 3,500

Referee: Alain Rolland

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