RONAN O’MAHONY’S 84TH minute try gave Munster a 16 – 10 victory over Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park.
Scarlets were reduced to 13 men for the final four minutes as Mike Poole’s dangerous tackle earned him a seat in the sin-bin alongside Rob Evans who walked for taking out Billy Holland in the air at a 74th minute line-out.
With the clock gone red, and the gain-line only offering a long-range drop-goal chance the victory seemed unlikely, but a quick-thinking break from Duncan Williams brought Munster to the five-metre line.
From there, JJ Hanrahan – who also kicked 11 points for his side – showed excellent grace under pressure to step back and kick wide to the right wing where O’Mahony was able to take his time and touch the ball down after a bounce.
In a first half in which neither side could build much in the way of continuity both hooker Duncan Casey and tight-head BJ Botha were forced off after Hanrahan traded penalties with Aled Thomas to leave the scoreboard reading three points apiece.
Thomas lit up an otherwise drab game with a brilliant break moments into the second half to set up John Barclay who cruised under the posts.
Munster’s down-tempo Musgrave Park form continued for much of the second half, yet Hanrahan’s penalties brought them back to withing a single point of the Welsh province.
And when ill discipline got the better of Simon Easterby’s side and Nigel Owens’ Christmas cards came out, it was Munster’s for the taking.
