Rare road win for Munster

Munster ended Connacht's eight-match unbeaten run at the Sportsground as the defending champions claimed an 18-12 Magners League victory.

Despite fielding a back-line that included three debutants Munster led 11-7 at the interval and a converted try from Scott Deasy soon after proved the decisive score.

Connacht did hit back thanks to a try from number eight George Naoupu on the hour mark but Michael Bradley's men were unable to penetrate the red defensive wall thereafter.

A ruck infringement by Connacht captain John Muldoon gave Paul Warwick the perfect opportunity to open the scoring in the fourth minute, and six minutes later he doubled the lead after lock Michael Swift became isolated after a big tackle from Dave Ryan.

But Connacht's first visit to the opposition 22 brought about the first try of the game, Ian Keatley breaking away before Sean Cronin took it on before feeding it to Niva Ta'auso, who put Johnny O'Connor in on the right.

Keatley's conversion gave the hosts a 7-6 advantage and although they had plenty of possession Munster's big forwards continued to prove a tough bridge to cross.

And the visitors went ahead again before the break after Nick Williams thundered clear off a ruck before offloading to Tony Buckley.

He was brought to ground but with Connacht on the stretch the overlap was created by Warwick on the right for Niall Ronan to crash over in the corner.

Warwick failed to add the two from wide out and also a penalty from inside his own half while Keatley also failed with a penalty attempt before half-time from the left hand side.

A four-point lead became 11 just two minutes into the second period when Williams sent Simon Zebo through a gap and the debutant winger popped a one-handed pass for Deasy to go over for a try that Warwick this time converted.

It was a crushing blow for the hosts so soon after the interval and the deficit proved too much to overhaul, although Naoupu took advantage of Zebo's sin-binning to cross in the 60th minute, replacement Miah Nikora failing to add the extras.

Connacht fought to the death in a vain attempt to find another way through, but with youngsters Dave Foley and Peter O'Mahony giving everything in defence Munster held on for their first victory on the road since September.