Munster Rugby undone by Leinster once more at wet Thomond Park in URC dogfight

MUNSTER Rugby's hopes of securing just their second win in seven meetings with arch rivals Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) were scuppered in a 9-3 defeat on a filthy wet and windy St Stephen's Day at a sold-out Thomond Park. 

Three penalty goals from the boot of Harry Byrne proved sufficient for Leo Cullen's side to wrestle the points away from the URC holders and inflict a fifth successive defeat on Munster in Limerick.

Wind-assisted Leinster led 6-0 at half-time after an old school, arm wrestle of an opening half, with the wet and windy evening spoiling the game as a spectacle for the bumper holiday attendance.

Munster looked in a decent position in a contest which was stop-start in nature due to the poor conditions, the home side succeeding in keeping their try-line intact, thanks largely to a terrific cover tackle from Simon Zebo. 

Hone out-half Jack Crowley halved the deficit with a penalty in the difficult conditions, yet Byrne put two misses behind him to land a last-minute winner from close range, in front of a 25,600-strong capacity crowd.

The result saw Leinster back above Glasgow Warriors at the summit of the URC table, while it is Munster’s second defeat of the season to their arch rivals.

Munster had to make-do with taking a losing bonus point from the game. There was an injury cost for the home side from the game as they lost captain Diarmuid Barron (leg), loosehead Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder) and promising young lock Edwin Edogbo (achilles).

Inexperienced hooker Eoghan Clarke, signed by Munster on a short-term deal, entered the fray in the seventh minute to replace Barron. It was the 25-year-old Shannon clubman's URC derby.

Munster are now three games without a win in all competitions ahead of their New Year's Day trip to Galway to face Connacht at the Sportsground in another interprovincial clash, 3pm.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, Diarmuid Barron (Capt), Oli Jager; Edwin Edogbo, Gavin Coombes, Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Jack O'Donoghue Replacements: Eoghan Clarke for Barron (injured, 7 mins); Jeremy Loughman for Kilcoyne (HIA, 19); Brian Gleeson for Edogbo (50); Paddy Patterson for Casey (61); Stephen Archer for Jager (66); Alex Kendellen for Hodnett (70); Seán O’Brien for A Nankivell (71); Oli Jager for Nash (78).

LEINSTER RUGBY: Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose (Capt), Ciarán Frawley, Rob Russell, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Joe McCarthy, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Jack Conan. Replacements: Ryan Baird for Deegan (50 mins); Jason Jenkins for Moloney, Dan Sheehan for Kelleher (both 55); Will Connors for Penny (both 66); Ed Byrne for Porter, Thomas Clarkson for Ala’alatoa (both 75).

REFEREE: Andy Brace (IRFU)