A helping Han gives the Reds a victory

JJ MAKES THE DIFFERENCE AS A LATE TRY DENIES PLUCKY CONS

Munster 27 Connacht 14

home to Edinburgh. Munster now face Benetton Rugby in the quarter-final next Saturday.

Munster were 17-7 ahead at half-time after first half tries from Tadhg Beirne and Mike Haley cancelled out the returning Finlay Bealham’s opener.

“It was a derby and we knew it was going to be physical. We had to dig deep,” said Beirne.

“After last week against Saracens we were bitterly disappointed and we had to use that disappointment today to get over the line.”

Connacht’s fourth PRO14 win-in-a-row against Cardiff Blues last time out secured Champions Cup rugby for them next term, and their place in the league’s knockout stages for the second time.

And there was plenty of positives from the opening quarter, from their point of view, but Munster struck first in the 21st minute after Neil Cronin forced a penalty off the retreating and offside Tom Mccartney. Tyler Bleyendaal scored the resultant kick. A fresh-looking Connacht outfit were dangerous and with Kieran Marmion superb at scrum-half they had the perfect launch pad for their attacks.

He went quick with a penalty and nearly scored in the 23rd minute, but a few plays later Connacht were in.

Bealham was the try-scorer after the pack plundered their way to the line and the Ireland tighthead touched down brilliantly over his head. Dean’s conversion gave Connacht a deserved 7-3 lead.

Munster did get their try shortly after the half-hour mark when Beirne broke off a pass from Cronin and evaded the cover provided by Niyi Adeolokun and O’halloran.

Bleyendaal pushed Munster further in front with a penalty in the 56th minute but Connacht continued to disrupt, and they worked their way back up the field after Peter O’mahony was penalised for clearing Eoin Mckeon out of maul illegally.

Connacht were completely dominant at scrum-time and were refusing to be bowed – Eoin Mckeon scored their second try with 10 minutes left to give them hope still.

Dean’s conversion meant Connacht were within a converted try but Hanrahan’s intervention did enough to secure victory.