Guinness PRO12: Munster end Leinster winning streak in Dublin
Last Updated: 05/10/14 4:39pm
Munster moved above Leinster in the Pro 12 table after claiming a 34-23 victory in Dublin for their first win at their arch-rivals since 2008.
Criticised for their early-season form under new head coach Anthony Foley, Munster produced the ideal response with a storming forwards-dominated display that had the hallmarks of Foley's own playing days.
They even survived four yellow cards in the second half to seal a deserved derby victory - led by 21-point hero Ian Keatley and man of the match Conor Murray alongside him at half-back.
James Cronin and Robin Copeland both crossed for tries, with Keatley adding an intercept effort as the visitors moved 28-9 clear for half-time. Ian Madigan kicked Leinster's points from penalties.
In front of a 43,817-strong crowd, the Reds continued to outsmart the reigning Guinness PRO12 champions until that succession of sin-binnings saw Leinster come back into contention.
Munster lost their discipline as Darragh Fanning swept through for a try and David Foley pulled down a maul for a Leinster penalty try. That cut the gap to 31-23 but Keatley's replacement JJ Hanrahan settled the issue with a 76th-minute penalty.
It was Leinster's first ever PRO12 loss at either Lansdowne Road or the Aviva Stadium, ending a run of 13 victories, and a sizeable blow to their league title defence.
Lead
After a solid start it got even better for the visitors as Andrew Conway wrestled possession back for the Reds, the dynamic Denis Hurley punched it up in midfield and three covering defenders were unable to prevent prop Cronin from stretching over for a try.
The Leinster defence was coming under sustained pressure from Munster's very effective 'pick and drive' game and number eight Copeland crowned his first inter-provincial appearance with a seven-pointer under the posts.
A long lineout throw over the back to Devin Toner led to a Madigan penalty approaching half-time, but Leinster were stung by Keatley's try which saw him intercept Gopperth's attempted inside pass and race away from just inside the Munster half.
Amid a scrappy spell, the penalties began to stack up against Munster and referee Ian Davies lost his patience as Damien Varley was sin-binned for a cynical offside.
Fellow replacement front rower BJ Botha followed him off the pitch just two minutes later, having infringed at a midfield ruck, and suddenly Leinster had a two-man advantage.
The hosts kicked for the corner and winger Fanning hared onto Gopperth's inviting short pass, with his diagonal run taking him away from Simon Zebo to score by the posts. Madigan converted for 28-16.
A Keatley three-pointer kept Munster on course, though, with fit-again captain Peter O'Mahony now on the pitch.
Shortly after Varley's return, lock Foley was shown yellow for collapsing a Leinster maul as it powered towards the try-line, and the resulting penalty try was converted by Madigan.
Munster showed their mettle by setting up Hanrahan for what proved to be the clinching penalty and, despite losing Murray late on, they defended manfully to deny Leinster a losing bonus point.
