O'Gara puts the boot in

O'Gara: Put the boot in

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A last-minute penalty by Ronan O'Gara saw Munster prevail 18-16 at the Parc y Scarlets on Friday, after the home side had nearly pulled off a superb Magners League fightback.

Munster's Donncha O'Callaghan was sin-binned as the Scarlets were awarded a late penalty try four minutes into stoppage time, which looked likely to cap a fine comeback victory for the Welsh side.

However, O'Gara and Munster were not to be denied and the skipper booted over the winning penalty to send the Irish side home with the win.

The drama started even before kick-off, when a crash on the M4 threatened to put back the game, but the Munster team made it through the rush hour traffic.

First points

O'Gara made history by kicking the first points at the new Scarlets ground, after they left Stradey Park last month after 129 years.

Rhys Priestland levelled it up after 23 minutes with a penalty of his own, before the visitors were reduced to 14 men with centre Lifeimi Mafi receiving a yellow card.

Munster still dominated the half and ended it with two tries in eight minutes, firstly from winger Ian Dowling after he danced through some dodgy Welsh defending.

Just before the half-time whistle blew, a powerful Munster scrum from five metres out set up the base for number eight Denis Leamy to get over the line.

Stand-in skipper O'Gara converted the score to send his side in 15-3 ahead at the break.

Priestland's third penalty got the Scarlets close, and the penalty try looked to have given the hosts the win, but for O'Gara's late, late intervention.

Even then, the drama was not over, as Scarlets replacement Ceiron Thomas went for the drop-goal, but when his attempt was blocked it was all over.