Munster moved to the top of Guinness PRO14’s Conference A after edging out Connacht 31-24 in a seven-try shootout at the Sportsground.
Returning captain Peter O’Mahony and man-of-the-match Joey Carbery, who scored 16 points, played crucial roles as Johann Van Graan’s men built on last week’s derby success against Leinster to replace Glasgow at the top of the conference.
Converted tries from O’Mahony and Dan Goggin cancelled out Tom Farrell’s opportunist seven-pointer as Munster took a 14-10 half-time lead.
Cian Kelleher and Goggin swapped tries in the second period, the latter score sparking a run of 17 points from the victors whose 63rd-minute bonus-point try was run in by Carbery.
Connacht set up a grandstand finish with a brilliantly-worked Jack Carty try eight minutes from the end, but Munster’s strength-in-depth proved too much.
Both Van Graan and Andy Friend made changes to winning sides from the last round, with one eye on next week’s return to European action. Illness prevented Denis Buckley from running out for his 150th Connacht appearance, but their debutant centre Tom Daly made an early impression with a powerful break.
The opening try arrived a few minutes later, Farrell impressively ripping the ball from Arno Botha’s grasp and racing clear from the hosts’ 10-metre line.
Carty converted but Connacht blew their next opportunity as Tadhg Beirne stole a key lineout.
After Alby Mathewson tackled Caolin Blade into touch, Munster upped the tempo in attack with Chris Farrell getting over the gain-line and deft hands from Carbery and Keith Earls sent O’Mahony over for a slick try which the fly-half converted.
The men in red kept hold of territory, dictating through their tactical kicking and forward play.
TMO Simon McDowell adjudged that prop John Ryan was stopped short before Munster used the resulting five-metre scrum to spring centre Goggin over from close range. Carbery’s simple conversion opened up a seven-point advantage.
Crucially, Connacht began to claw back some of that territory with Caolin Blade winning an important penalty and Matt Healy’s pace bringing them past halfway. O’Mahony infringed at a ruck and handed Carty the opportunity to rifle over three points with a well-struck final kick of the half.
Connacht enjoyed a blistering start to the second period as Tom Farrell found a gap between Chris Farrell and Goggin and spun a pass wide for winger Kelleher to finish off. Carty supplied the extras but Munster’s strong bench made its impact.
While Connacht were missing Bundee Aki and skipper Jarrad Butler, Munster had the luxury of introducing Conor Murray and CJ Stander and a terrific third try got them back on track.
Some slick handling released Alex Wootton up into the 22 and Mathewson’s looping pass bounced up for Goggin to complete his brace near the left corner.
A conversion and an 18-metre penalty from Carbery widened the gap to 24-17, and with O’Mahony continuing to exert influence at the breakdown and on the opposition lineout, Munster were rewarded with the bonus point.
The maul sucked Connacht in and replacement Tyler Bleyendaal’s long pass put Carbery in.
The home crowd erupted when Carty went under the posts to complete his 14-point haul, but the swiftly-converted try was only enough for a losing bonus point.
