Beirne Shines As Munster See Off ‘Quins Challenge

Munster made Harlequins pay for poor discipline in a 21-7 Heineken Champions Cup win in difficult wet conditions at Thomond Park.

Facing into a blustery wind, Johann van Graan’s men took a 6-0 half-time lead thanks to two JJ Hanrahan penalties after 12 and 37 minutes.

Cadan Murley’s 55th-minute try cancelled out a Munster penalty try, but ‘Quins captain Alex Dombrandt saw yellow for their third sin-binning of the game.

Champions Cup debutant Gavin Coombes duly drove over for a 69th-minute unconverted try – adding to a booming Ben Healy penalty – to seal a deserved victory.

Giving his reaction afterwards, van Graan said: “We’re very glad of the win. It was difficult conditions, opponents who didn’t go away. We would have loved to use more of our opportunities but any win in Europe is a good win.

“We knew it was going to be a real 23-man effort and we created chances that we didn’t use, but we’re very happy with our impact players.

“We go to Clermont (Auvergne) next, they’re one of the European powerhouses, (there’s been) some big tussles between Munster and Clermont. If you looked at them yesterday, they were excellent the way they started against Bristol.

“It’s a massive challenge ahead for us (next Saturday) and that’s what this competition is about, to challenge yourself against the best teams.

“It’s great that Munster and Clermont will go out with their top teams because this is what the competition is about. You always want to play your top teams in this competition.”

Buoyed by their recent Gallagher Premiership wins in Northampton and Gloucester, ‘Quins laid down an early marker with a scrum penalty forced by the returning Joe Marler.

Despite the incoming rain, the temperature increased on the pitch with some handbags between out-halves Hanrahan and Marcus Smith. Hanrahan popped over a penalty soon after to punish a Marler indiscretion.

‘Quins were happy to see Hanrahan overcook a touchfinder from a 20th-minute penalty, prior to which Smith had done well to deny a diving Mike Haley in the right corner.

Nonetheless, the talented 21-year-old missed two penalty attempts, the latter one from 47 metres sliding wide after the ball had initially fallen off the tee.

Then, a Dombrandt try from a Danny Care cross-field kick was disallowed for a forward pass by Murley, who had made an opportunist break during the build-up.

Hanrahan responded by doubling Munster’s lead before missing a third kick late on, with ‘Quins flanker James Chisolm binned for coming in at the side following a brilliant Tadhg Beirne break.

Munster prop Stephen Archer saw yellow early in the second period, caught offside from a quick tap by Care. Yet, the visitors lost crucial ground with a Damian de Allende rip in the tackle and a terrific kick downfield by Beirne.

With Care coughing up a penalty for a shoulder on Keith Earls, Munster’s opening try came from the resulting lineout as ‘Quins flanker Will Evans collapsed the maul, prompting the double whammy of a yellow and a penalty try.

Paul Gustard’s charges showed impressive resilience, though, as they began to create space for Nathan Earle. From a close-in ruck, Care flung the ball wide and Murley shrugged off Andrew Conway’s attempted tackle to raid over.

Smith supplied the extras to make it 13-7, only for Dombrandt’s shoulder charge on Healy, Hanrahan’s replacement, to complete a trio of back row binnings for ‘Quins.

Healy dusted himself off to nail the penalty from inside the Munster half, and Coombes’ excellent leg drive, as he absorbed two tackles, allowed him to reach out for the line and clinch the result.

Beirne was an obvious Heineken star-of-the-match given his all-round contribution, which included a trademark turnover penalty in the dying minutes.

Munster lie sixth in the Pool B standings ahead of next Saturday’s second round trip to Clermont, which could have a huge bearing on their quarter-final hopes come the New Year.