Munster's season comes to an end following shootout heartbreak in South Africa

Munster Rugby's season has ended following a dramatic BKT URC quarter-final defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks after a kick-battle. The sides were were tied 24-24 after extra-time scoring three tries each, the game went to kicks to decide the winner.

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Munster led at the break seven points to nil thanks to a Calvin Nash try and Jack Crowley conversion, the visitors didn’t get their first points of the game until 45 minutes in. The second half came alive with tries from Josh Wycherley and Diarmuid Kilgallen and an excellent long-range penalty from Conor Murray sending the game into extra time. The scores were still even at the end of extra-time and Munster finished one kick short in a kick-battle.

The first points of the game from the visitors. A Munster attack started with a fantastic run from Kilgallen down the left wing. The ball was picked up by Crowley who sent a cross-field kick to Nash scoring the first points of the game. Crowley converted putting the visitors in the lead 0-7 after ten minutes.

Munster missed the chance to add an additional three points from the tee. Whilst the men in red maintained a lot of possession and territory in the first quarter, both sides gave away several penalties.

The first chance at points for Sharks came from a penalty attempt but Jordan Hendrikse sent the ball wide.

Sharks looked to get over the line, camped in the Munster 22, but Tadhg Beirne made a superb read, intercepting the ball on the line. A fantastic defensive effort from the men in red.

Sharks came out from the half-time break with renewed energy. An excellent offload from Lukhanyo Am sent Ethan Hooker flying, using his power and pace to step through several Munster defenders. They evened the score 7-7 with Hendrikse’s conversion.

The home side took the lead momentarily with a short-range penalty, but Munster hit back immediately with a try from Wycherley having subbed on a minute before. Crowley converted edging his side ahead, 10-14.

A third Munster try thanks to Diarmuid Kilgallen came just minutes later, Mike Haley kicking the ball through for the winger to pounce and get down. Crowley’s conversion squeezed through extending their lead 10-21 as the match went into the final quarter.

Aphelele Fassi scored the Sharks’ second try, after a relentless period of Sharks attack, the conversion was good and they closed the gap, 17-21. A third followed suit, and the hosts took the lead with 10 minutes to go, 24-21.

Rory Scannell came on with seven minutes left on the clock for his 200^th Munster cap.

Murray successfully took a huge penalty from 48 metres after a deliberate Sharks knock-on, the scores were even at the full-time whistle, the quarter-final going into extra time.

There were several pieces of individual brilliance in the first period of extra time. Sharks were looking to score, but Tadhg Beirne’s excellent work at the breakdown won a Munster penalty within metres of their line. Kilgallen made an outstanding take in the air and Tom Ahern blocked down an attempted drop goal.

With the scores even, the amount of tries even (three each), after extra time the match went to a kick-battle. Each team chose three kickers who had two chances each to slot the ball through the posts. The Munster kickers were  Crowley, Scannell and Murray. Sharks took the victory, kicking six from six, with Munster just missing one. The South Africans advance to the semi-final to play the Bulls in Pretoria.

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams (Mike Haley ’51); Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell (Rory Scannell ’73), Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Conor Murray ’65); Michael Milne (Josh Wycherley ’55, Michael Milne ‘67), Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer (John Ryan ’68); Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony (Tom Ahern ’55), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen ’65), Gavin Coombes.