Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today’s URC derby meeting of Leinster and Munster at Croke Park.

Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens.

In case you missed it, there’s been two changes to the Leinster team announced on Thursday. Tommy O’Brien and Jack Conan have been ruled out with back and knee injuries, so Jordan Larmour and Max Deegan start, with Jimmy O’Brien added to the bench.

Josh van der Flier has been named as captain in Conan’s absence.

Kick-off in Drumcondra is at 5.15pm. 

There’s loads of pre-match reading available on The 42. Including Murray Kinsella’s interview with Munster’s Thaakir Abrahams, which you find here.

IT’S NOT THAT long ago that Thaakir Abrahams and his wife, Tasneem, were enjoying the hustle and bustle of big-city life in Lyon.

The South African natives are not naturally city folk but they came to love being able to walk out of their apartment onto a street full of restaurants and cafés during Abrahams’ single season playing in the Top 14.

Life now in the lovely village of Castleconnell, a short drive from Limerick, is different.

It suits the outdoorsy Abrahams, who have a 16-month-old daughter, Diyaana. A second baby girl is on the way very soon.

Thaakir’s job with Munster is keeping him busy – he starts on the wing against Leinster today in Croke Park – but his phone is on loud all the time, while Tasneem has Munster team manager Martyn Vercoe’s number just in case her husband is out on the pitch when the time comes.

Murray also caught up with Leinster and Ireland prop Andrew Porter this week. You can read the interview here.

IT’S NOT COMMON for a 29-year-old rugby player to release an autobiography when their career is still thundering along happily. Even a player as decorated and high-achieving as Andrew Porter.

But then, neither is it common for a rugby autobiography to include so little detail about rugby.

Porter’s new book, Heart on my Sleeve, doesn’t involve the play-by-play accounts of games that are commonplace in sporting autobiographies.

He has a different story, one that revolves around the grief of losing his mother, Wendy, to breast cancer when he was 12. Porter’s account of his life since is incredibly honest.

He holds nothing back in discussing things like the eating disorder he developed after his mother’s death, the time he considered taking his life at the age of 14, his ADHD, and the two miscarriages that his wife, Elaine, had before the birth of their son, Max.

And you can find our match preview here. 

Leinster’s starting pack is fearsome, and that’s the key battle for Munster, who have the backs to cause Leinster pain. Thaakir Abrahams is one of the most exciting players in Irish rugby and with Andrew Smith on the opposite wing, there’s no lack of pace on Munster’s edges. Tom Farrell was the province’s player of the season last year and his centre partner today, Dan Kelly, already looks like he might be in that conversation this time around.

Leinster aren’t short on explosive backline talent themselves, with the Garry Ringrose-Robbie Henshaw centre partnership back in action for the first time this year, while the likes of Jamie Osborne, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe will be determined to showcase their best before linking up with Ireland.

On paper, this has all the ingredients needed to cook up a cracker in Croker.

Just five minutes to kick-off here. The rain has eased off but it’s a chilly evening in Dublin, with a slight breeze.

KICK-OFF

We’re underway in Croke Park.

4mins: Leinster 0 Munster 0

Leinster applying the early pressure as they get into the 22 for the first time, with Prendergast, Gibson-Park, Larmour and Snyman all showing good hands. The move breaks down through strong Munster defence and they clear their lines.

TRY! Leinster (Kelleher)

6mins: Leinster 7 Munster 0

Leinster have the first try of the evening. After winning a penalty the home side go to the corner. Kelleher’s throw hits James Ryan, and Munster’s maul defence initially looks strong, but Leinster get moving and Kelleher goes over, with Sam Prendergast adding the conversion.

And an early injury blow for Munster. Andrew Smith limps off, so Alex Nankivell enters the action.

10mins: Leinster 7 Munster 0

Munster get the ball moving in the Leinster 22 but Edwin Edogbo knocks the ball on on the edge of the 5-metre line. Scrum Leinster.

15mins: Leinster 7 Munster 0

A little bit scrappy as the rain picks up again. Munster keep the ball around the midfield but struggle to break through. Jack Crowley shows some nice touches before an attempted kick through is blocked, we’ll have a Munster scrum now.

TRY! Munster (Gleeson)

17mins: Leinster 7 Munster 7

Munster work their way up to the tryline. Milne gets held up short, they go again, and Beirne gets held up. We go back for a Munster penalty for offside, and this time they power through as Brian Gleeson shows great strength to get the ball down. Crowley converts and we’ll all square in Croke Park.

21mins: Leinster 7 Munster 7

Larmour kicks into the Leinster backfield but Crowley deals with it superbly, taking the ball and sidestepping Gibson-Park before booting the ball back into the Leinster half. Osborne carries into contact and Munster turn the ball over. Clayton McMillan’s men are buzzing at the moment, and Crowley is looking really up for it.

22mins: Leinster 7 Munster 7

A long break in play in here as Jordan Larmour receives treatment. He’ll have to leave for a HIA, so Jimmy O’Brien is coming in for Leinster. That was a heavy blow for Larmour so it would be no surprise if he didn’t return.

Before that break Munster were fizzing in the Leinster 22, with Crowley again central. At the moment they’re the team pushing for a second try.

TRY! Munster (Farrell)

24mins: Leinster 7 Munster 14

As we were saying…

A simply superb Munster score. Crowley chips over the top, Farrell chases through and beats Osborne to take the ball one-handed and score under the posts. Crowley adds the extras.

Another injury for Munster. Brian Gleeson leaves with an arm injury, Gavin Coombes takes his place.

Confirmed attendance in Croke Park is 51,859.

33mins: Leinster 7 Munster 14

James Lowe cuts a frustrated figure as he spills a pass in the Munster 22. Leinster just lacking a little bit of cutting edge at the moment.

TRY! Munster (Coughlan)

37mins: Leinster 7 Munster 21

As we were saying…

Ethan Coughlan picks off a Jamison Gibson-Park pass and goes the length to score under the posts. Crowley taps over the conversion. A massive moment just before half time, great play by the Munster scrum-half.

39mins: Leinster 7 Munster 21

A Leinster penalty for playing the nine. Prendergast leaves for a HIA, Ciarán Frawley in at 10 for Leinster.

Leinster go the corner and maul, Munster win the penalty. Another big defensive moment.

Half time: Leinster 7 Munster 21

What a half of rugby from Munster, who lead at the break in Croke Park. Leinster need a big second half to turn this around. We’ll be back in 15!

Here’s that wonderful Tom Farrell try, if you haven’t caught it yet:

"That was out of the top drawer!" 🎙️

Tom Farrell produces a moment of class to edge @Munsterrugby in front at Croke Park 🔴 pic.twitter.com/q9weXuUg0c

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 18, 2025

Teams are back out, we’re ready to go for the second half. Sam Prendergast is back at 10 for Leinster. Diarmuid Barron is gone for Munster after going down with an injury on the stroke of half time, Lee Barron takes his place. Jean Kleyn has also replaced Edwin Edogbo.

43mins: Leinster 7 Munster 21

Leinster with the first opportunity of the second half as they attack off lineout, but it’s all a bit static and Munster turn the ball over, Tadhg Beirne doing the damage at the breakdown.

44mins: Leinster 7 Munster 21

Brian Deeny replaces RG Snyman, who took a bang during that last passage of play. A few boos can be heard from Hill 16 as the former Munster player leaves the pitch. 

And now Dan Sheehan replaces Ronan Kelleher in the Leinster front row.

Penalty – Crowley

48mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

Munster win a penalty around 45m out, and Crowley strikes it through the posts. A lovely kick considering the swirling wind here.

51mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

Another chance for Leinster as Prendergast kicks to the corner. The home side rumble through some big carries before Van der Flier gets over the tryline after running a great line, but he’s held up. Super work from Jean Kleyn and Gavin Coombes.

55mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

It’s all Leinster but they just can’t crack this Munster defence at the moment. Another penalty, and Leinster opt for the lineout again. Ryan wins the ball in the air, Leinster’s maul hits a brick wall and Munster manage to turn the ball over again.

Leinster then win a penalty at the scrum, and hammer at the Munster line. They go close before Gibson-Park spins a pass across the posts, and Coughlan steals the ball off the fingertips of Sheehan, knock-on. Coughlan picks up an injury in the process so Paddy Patterson is sent on. It’s going to be a Leinster scrum.

Munster turn the ball over after that Leinster scrum, but Crowley can only clear as far as the 22. Leinster are going to get another shot here.

63mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

Munster putting in some savage hits as Leinster keep knocking on the door. After what feels like an age, Munster turn the ball over again and celebrate as if they’ve won the game. This is a serious effort from Clayton McMillan’s men, and the away fans are loving it.

66mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

Tadhg Beirne makes way for Munster for a HIA, so John Ryan comes back in to fill in at flanker.

Entering the last 10 minutes and it’s just not happening for Leinster, who increasingly look out of ideas. The last time Munster won a regular season league game in Dublin was back in the 2014/15 season. Big 10 minutes ahead.

74mins: Leinster 7 Munster 24

Another Leinster lineout in the Munster 22, they go through a couple of phases and it’s another Munster turnover, Nankivell on Lowe. Story of the second half right there.

PENALTY TRY! Munster!

77mins: Leinster 7 Munster 31

WOW! – Tom Farrell looks inches away from landing the bonus point score for Munster, but he’s just short of the line as Ciarán Frawley scrambles across. I think everyone here was expecting no try, but the ref decides it’s a cynical tackle from Frawley, so awards a penalty try! 

79mins: Leinster 7 Munster 31

Leinster back in the Munster 22, Lowe fires a pass at Osborne and it’s knocked on. Lowe and Dan Kelly then end up in a tussle. Pure frustration on the Leinster end, pure joy on the Munster side.

A late yellow card for Gavin Coombes, and Leinster get over for a late consolation try through Scott Penny. Prendergast converts. Too little, too late.

FULL TIME: Leinster 14 Munster 31

Well how about that? A massive Munster performance in Croke Park, who fully deserved the win today. 

Murray Kinsella’s match report will be on The 42 shortly and myself and Murray will have all the reaction from Croke Park across the afternoon. Thanks for joining us today!