| Munster (3) 20 |
| Tries: Beirne, Crowley Cons: Crowley 2 Pens: Crowley 2 |
| Cardiff (0) 15 |
| Tries: Thomas, Younger Con: De Beer Pen: Beetham |
Eire fly-half Jack Crowley scored 15 factors as Munster battled previous Cardiff within the United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park.
Crowley kicked the one factors with a penalty in a low-key first half.
After Tadhg Beirne’s attempt, Ben Thomas and Thomas Younger responded to place Cardiff into the lead.
Nevertheless, Crowley transformed his personal attempt to added an extra penalty to increase Munster’s lead, and the hosts held on regardless of Jacob Beetham’s late penalty.
Munster stay fourth within the URC desk whereas Cardiff keep twelfth, with simply three wins from their 13 matches.
Cardiff welcomed six Welsh internationals – Josh Adams, full-back Cam Winnett, again row Alex Mann, hooker Evan Lloyd and props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti – again into their beginning workforce in Limerick.
In a low-scoring first half, Cardiff impressed however Munster had a attempt dominated out when John Hodnett touched down just for play to be introduced again for a knock-on by Shane Daly within the build-up.
After Crowley’s first-half penalty Beirne’s attempt prolonged Munster’s benefit following the interval, however Thomas ran in an intercept attempt from inside his personal 22 to get Cardiff on the board.
Munster prop James Ryan was despatched to the sin-bin and the guests instantly capitalised when Younger scored from a maul.
Crowley then noticed a spot within the Cardiff defence to reply for the 14 males, with the Eire fly-half changing his personal attempt to including a penalty to take his tally to fifteen factors.
Beetham kicked a late penalty to earn Cardiff a bonus level to deliver again to Wales.
Munster: Mike Haley; Sean O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Joey Carbery, Simon Zebo
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Ellis Jenkins, Mackenzie Martin
Replacements: Rhys Carre, Evan Lloyd, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Thomas Younger, Matthew Aubrey, Jacob Beetham, Theo Cabango
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (IRFU), Matteo Liperini (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)