DREAM START FOR FLYING CARBERY Joey scores 15 points in first start for Munstermen as Ospreys crushed
A JOEY Carbery-inspired Munster crushed a much changed Ospreys in a comfortable 49-13 Guinness PRO14 win at Irish Independent Park.
They christened the Cork venue’s new 3G modified pitch with a 15thminute penalty try and converted scores from Carbery, James Cronin and Rhys Marshall to lead 28-6 at half-time.
Captain and seasonal debutant Peter O’mahony kept Munster on the front foot and further tries from Marshall, Arno Botha and Darren Sweetnam wrapped up a big bonuspoint victory, with fly-half Carbery finishing with 15 points.
Sam Davies landed two first-half penalties for Ospreys, who had both Giorgi Nemsadze and Adam Beard sin-binned.
Wales Sevens star Luke Morgan marked his PRO14 debut with a second-half try for the well-beaten Welshmen.
Although Ospreys travelled across as Conference A leaders, they made a dozen changes from their hammering of Toyota Cheetahs and rested captain Justin Tipuric, Alunwyn Jones and George North.
With Tadhg Beirne, on his first start, and the fit-again Chris Cloete starring up front, Munster had the better of a frenetic opening 10 minutes, man-of-the-match Cloete making his mark with a muscular rip in the tackle and a trademark breakdown poach.
However, their best chance was spoiled by second-rower Beirne losing his footing after full-back Mike Haley had done well to regather his own chip.
Ospreys suffered a double blow when a powerful maul earned Munster their penalty try, with Georgian lock Nemsadze seeing yellow for collapsing it.
Davies landed a well-struck penalty in response, but his poor exit kick was turned into a second Munster try by a brilliant burst up the left wing from Carbery, making his first start for his new club.
After a second successful penalty from Davies, Cloete’s classy carry right up to the region’s try-line set up prop Cronin to place the ball against the post for try number three.
Carbery converted and also added the extras to Marshall’s maul effort just before the interval, which was preceded by Beard’s binning for a lineout infringement.
The 14 men leaked another maul try to Marshall two minutes into the second half and South African number eight Botha quickly followed him, barging over impressively following an O’mahony interception.
Botha was held up soon after and Ospreys salvaged some pride with winger Morgan’s opportunist 60thminute score from a bouncing kick past halfway.
Carbery’s replacement Ian Keatley and Botha combined to send Sweetnam weaving over barely two minutes later and an eighth try eluded Munster in the closing stages, Hanno Dirksen denying James Hart after a barnstorming run by fellow replacement Tommy O’donnell.