O’Mahony hands out a 7-try Parma hammering

RONAN O’MAHONY touched down twice as Munster strengthened their grip on a top-four spot in the Pro12 with a convincing victory in Parma.

Wing O’Mahony scored in either half to become the league top try-scorer with nine.

Niall Scannell, Tommy O’Donnell and Rory Scannell also crossed while replacement James Cronin added a brace.

Hooker Scannell touched down off a maul to put the visitors ahead inside three minutes before O’Donnell made Zebre pay for conceding three consecutive penalties by crossing 15 minutes later.

O’Mahony’s first try of the afternoon extended the lead before the Italian side, who have never beaten Munster, responded through Derick Minnie’s converted try on the half-hour mark, before Munster fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal, who converted the opening three tries, added a penalty in the final minute of the first half.

Munster centre Scannell joined his older brother on the scoreboard to ensure his side a bonus point, before O’Mahony secured his brace after Marcello Violi was sin-binned.

Zebre reduced the deficit to 12 through South African Lloyd Greeff but Munster quickly reasserted their authority with Cronin crossing twice.