Tenacious Munster celebrate famous URC victory over great rivals Leinster at Croke Park

TENACIOUS Munster Rugby celebrated a famous 31-14 bonus point vctory over great rivals Leinster in the United Rugby Championship in front of an attendance of 51,859 at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

Munster produced a stirring display, outscoring their great provincial rivals by four tries to two, to extend their winning start to the URFC season to four games.

This was the heaviest league defeat Munster has inflicted on Leinster since a 22-5 loss at Thomond Park in April 2009.

Lions star Tadhg Beirne was in inspired form for Munster on his return to the side, while out-half Jack Crowley turned in a Man of the Match display in the play-maker role.

An assured Crowley also boosted his prospects of gaining the number 10 jersey for Ireland's marquee autumn international fixtures next month.

Munster’s two previous matches at Croke Park were both defeats to Leinster, in the Champions Cup in May 2009 and in the Championship in October 2024.
 
Leinster had won their four previous meetings against Munster since Munster’s 16-15 win at Aviva Stadium in the URC semi-final in 2024.

Saturday night's game at GAA HQ saw the fit-again Edwin Edogbo rewarded with his first start for the province since December 2023.

Munster built a significant 21-7 lead at half-time after Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell and Ethan Coughlan scored vital tries to more than cancel out Ronan Kelleher's earlyfive-pointer

The visitors picked up the bonus-point score when they were awarded a penalty try after Ciaran Frawley was deemed to have illegally stopped Tom Farrell at the tryline, earning the Leinster back a yellow card.

Scott Penny scored a late consolation try for Leinster, who slipped to a third defeat in four games this season having already fallen to the Stormers and Bulls.

The deadlock in the derby played in blustery, drizzly conditions was broken in the sixth minute when, following a powerful lineout drive from Leinster, hooker Kelleher broke away to score. Our-half Sam Prendergast also duly added the conversion for 7-0.

Munster then lost winger Andrew Smith to an unfortunate injury and he was replaced by Kiwi centre Alex Nankivell in the  ninth minute.

Awarded a 15th minute penalty, Munster opted to tap at short range. Number 8 Brian Gleeson gained possession soon after to drive in low and score with the support of prop John Ryan. Crowley levelled the game up with a successful conversion.

Soon after, Munster hit the front. Munster centre Tom Farrell beat Jimmy O'Brien to a pinpoint kick over the top from out-half Crowley, cruising in under the posts to establish a 14-7 advantage.

Munster lost the unfortunate Brian Gleeson to a 28th minute injury, with the number eight replaced by Gavin Coombes. 

However, the visiting supporters were in dreamland soon after when Ennis native Ethan Coughlan produced a terrific read just inside Munster's 22, picking off a Gibson-Park pass and scampering downfield to score, giving Crowley a straight forward conversion to make it 21-7.

Munster fought a successful reargurad action before half-time, producing a big defensive win on the stroke of half-time, as Beirne and Jack O'Donoghue managed to swallow up Kelleher at a maul.

Leinster pushed hard to get back into the contest after half-time, but resilient Munster successfully soaked up the best their hosts could throw at them.

Crowley then slotted a 45-metre penalty, eight minutes into the second half as Munster's lead was stretched to 17 points.

Leinster, who lost RG Snyman to injury, were then denied a score when a defiant Coombes and Jean Kleyn combined to hold up Josh van der Flier. The reigning champions enjoyed a dominant period inside the opposition '22, only for Beirne to produce two more crucial turnovers.

At the other end of the pitch, Munster struck for their bonus point try with four minutes remaining. Lively winger Thaakir Abrahams linked out wide with Farrell who was tackled just short of the tryline by Leinster's Scott Penny. However, referee Gianluca Gnecchi penalised Frawley for a cynical infringement inches away from the try-line following a TMO review.

Munster were awarded a penalty try and the outcome was decided, although Leinster did manage a last gasp try from replacement Penny which Prendergast converted. 

SCORERS: Leinster: Ronan Kelleher, Scott Penny try each, Sam Prendergast 2 cons. Munster Rugby: Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell, Ethan Coughlan try each, pen try, Jack Crowley pen, 3 cons. 

LEINSTER RUGBY: Jamie Osborne, Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan. Replacements: Andrew Porter for McCarthy (injured, 17 mins); Jimmy O’Brien for Larmour (HIA, 23 mins); Ciaran Frawley for Prendergast (HIA, 39-41 mins); Brian Deeny for Snyman (injured, 43 mins); Dan Sheehan for Kelleher (45 mins); Ciarán Frawley for Henshaw (58 mins); Thomas Clarkson for Furlong (62 mins); Fintan Gunne for Gibson-Park (71 mins); Scott Penny for Deegan (73 mins).

MUNSTER RUGBY: Shane Daly, Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams, Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan, Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (Capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: Alex Nankivell for Smith (injured, 9 mins); Gavin Coombes for Gleeson (injured, 28 mins); Jean Kleyn for Edogbo, Lee Barron for D Barron (both half-time); Jeremy Loughman for Milne (53 mins); Paddy Patterson for Coughlan (56 mins); Ronan Foxe for Ryan (62 mins); John Ryan for Beirne (65 mins).

REFEREE: Peter Martin (IRFU)