CELTIC LEAGUE Munster: (27) 37 Tries: Horgan 2, Kelly, Payne Cons: Burke 3, Manning Pen: Burke 3 Ospreys: (3) 10 Try: Williams Con: Connor Pen: M Jones Att: 6,700

The reigning Celtic League champions had no answer to the Irish side who saw wingers Anthony Horgan (twice) and John Kelly touching down in the first half.

Munster stalled in the second half but full-back Shaun Payne poached a fourth try and bonus point late in the game.

Paul Burke kicked 15 points before he hobbled off while Ospreys skipper Barry Williams scored a consolation effort.

Lyn Jones' Ospreys were always playing second fiddle despite fly-half Matthew Jones booting them into a fifth-minute lead.

Paul Burke landed the leveller six minutes later before Munster fizzed some fast-paced attacking into their play.

A 22nd-minute blindside move involving good hands from Peter Stringer, Burke and South African Trevor Halstead put Horgan in for his first try out left.

Burke converted and the Ospreys' defence seemed in disarray four minutes later when Horgan, back from Achilles trouble, managed to weave his way over to put Munster 17-3 ahead.

Munster went further in front before the half-hour when the on-fire Horgan carved open the visitors on a 30-metre jaunt for the supporting Kelly to scoot over in the left corner.

Burke converted and added a penalty for a 27-3 interval lead.

Things went from bad to worse on the restart for the under-strength Ospreys when young centre David Bishop was hauled off with a suspected cracked kneecap.

Munster's hunt for a bonus point was finally realised with a 70th-minute intercept try for Payne while Williams grabbed a converted try in injury time.

Munster: Payne; Kelly, Halstead, Leamy, Horgan; Burke, Stringer; Horan, Sheahan, Pucciariello, Hogan, O'Callaghan, Quinlan, Wallace, Wallace, Foley.
Replacements: Manning for Burke (62), F Murphy for Stringer (74), Roche for Pucciariello (80), Henderson for Foley (71), S Keogh for Wallace (74).
Not Used: Flannery, O'Sullivan, O'Driscoll.

Ospreys: Terblanche; Mustoe, D Bishop, Davies, Vaughton; M Jones, Rees; James, B Williams, Millward, Cockbain, Bateman, Beech, Tandy, Lloyd.
Replacements: Parker for Bishop (53), Connor for M Jones (50), A Jones for Millward (50), Evans for Bateman (50), Wyn Jones for Lloyd (65).
Not Used: D. Jones, Bennett, Spice.

Referee: David Changleng (SRU).