Munster back to winning ways

Editor

Munster took a step towards the Pro12 play-offs on Saturday with a 35-29 win over Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

Munster took a step towards the Pro12 play-offs on Saturday with a 35-29 win over Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park.

Fly-half Ian Keatley's 20 points proved the difference between the sides as Munster battled to a narrow victory.

The Irish province led 18-6 at the break thanks to Luke O'Dea and Peter O'Mahony's touchdowns with the rest coming through Keatley.

Ruaridh Jackson hit back for the Warriors with two penalties. Glasgow kept themselves in the game through two Stuart Hogg tries and a pair of Duncan Weir three-pointers, but the home side pulled away through Conor Murray's score and the boot of their fly-half.

However, the visitors garnered a deserved bonus-point after Hogg claimed his hat-trick score.

In a battle between two play-off contenders, it was the Scottish team who got off to the perfect start when Jackson kicked a penalty.

But Munster levelled the scores through Keatley after 19 minutes and then took the lead when O'Dea crossed the whitewash.

Glasgow's fly-half kept them in touch with a second three-pointer before his opposite number converted one of his own.

However, disaster struck for the Warriors on the stroke of half-time as O'Mahony went over with Keatley converting. Munster led 18-6 at the break, but Hogg responded almost immediately for the visitors after half-time when he touched down.

The home side's stand-off extended their advantage to 10 points before the visiting centre displayed his immense potential with a second try.

Glasgow couldn't quite reel in the deficit and Keatley once again moved the visitors out of bonus-point territory as Munster led 24-16 after 55 minutes.

Weir came on for the struggling Jackson and he immediately made an impact by kicking a penalty. The respective fly-halves then traded three-pointers before Federico Aramburu was sin-binned for the Warriors, and Keatley added his sixth from the tee.

But it wasn't to be for the Warriors as Murray crossed the whitewash to keep themselves in contention for a home semi-final in the play-offs, despite Hogg picking up his third try with Weir converting.

The scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: O'Dea, O'Mahony, Murray
Cons: Keatley
Pens: Keatley 6

For Glasgow:
Tries: Hogg 3
Pens: Jackson 2, Weir 2

Yellow card: Aramburu (Glasgow – 70th min)

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Luke O'Dea, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Billy Holland, 19 John Ryan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Scott Deasy, 23 Ivan Dineen.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Federico Aramburu, 13 Stuart Hogg, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Colin Shaw, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Al Kellock (c), 4 Richie Gray, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Moray Low, 19 Tom Ryder, 20 Calum Forrester, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Tommy Seymour.

Venue: Musgrave Park
Referee: Nigel Owens