Conway Claims Another Brace As Munster March Into Semi-Finals

Munster capitalised on Connacht’s two first-half red cards to advance to the Guinness PRO14 semi-finals with a 49-12 bonus point win at the Aviva Stadium.

As It Happened: Munster v Connacht Live Blog

Connacht’s debutant number 8 Abraham Papali’i was sent off for a 25th-minute high tackle on Conor Murray. Nine minutes later, hooker Shane Delahunt saw red after leading with an elbow into CJ Stander’s neck.

Munster punished Conor Oliver’s early sin-binning with a seventh-minute Chris Cloete try and a penalty try. Prop Jeremy Loughman added a third before Connacht replacement Bundee Aki crossed before half-time to leave it 21-7.

Recovering from two yellows of their own, Munster went on to dominate the second half as they climbed back above the Scarlets to secure a second-place finish in Conference B.

Tries from man-of-the-match Tadhg Beirne, Andrew Conway (2) and James Cronin dwarfed a Jonny Murphy effort as Johann van Graan’s men set up a semi-final clash with old foes Leinster at the same venue next Friday (kick-off 7.35pm).

Profiting from Connacht’s poor discipline, Munster cemented their early dominance after their former flanker Oliver was guilty of going off his feet. Cloete touched down from a textbook lineout maul and JJ Hanrahan converted.

Connacht’s seven-man pack coughed up a 15th-minute penalty try from a five-metre scrum, with Munster tighthead Ryan to the fore. It was a nightmare start but the westerners gradually bounced back.

New Zealander Papali’i managed to rip possession away from CJ Stander and also carried strongly. However, that good work was undone when he tackled Murray with what referee Frank Murphy adjudged was a shoulder to the head, in consultation with TMO Olly Hodges.

Following Delahunt’s misjudged high carry towards Stander, Loughman provided a smart finish in the 36th minute, bouncing off a couple of tackles with Hanrahan converting.

Yellows for Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and Beirne near their own line evened up the numbers at 13 each, late on, and Connacht grabbed a well-taken try from Aki, who powered in between a couple of front rowers.

Yet, the concession of three tries in a five-minute spell had Connacht heads dropping. Beirne, a deserved man-of-the-match, picked up a 49th-minute bonus point when running a clever line inside Aki.

Hanrahan converted and also added the extras to a quick-fire Conway brace, the best of the afternoon’s tries seeing Beirne brilliantly link with Chris Farrell and Damian de Allende before supporting winger Conway finished off the long-range break.

Conway soon took his haul to four tries in two games when chasing down a Hanrahan kick in the right corner. Munster replacement Cronin and Connacht hooker Murphy also swapped close-range scores, with replacement Rory Scannell keeping up the winners’ 100% return from the tee.