Munster fell to their first defeat of the new RaboDirect PRO12 campaign at Murrayfiield where the Michael Bradley-coached Edinburgh side were thoroughly deserving 29-14 winners.
The hosts led 16-0 at one stage after totally dominating the opening quarter and then three Ian Keatley penalties offered Munster some hope as they went into the break.
However, Edinburgh extended their lead with a try from hooker Steve Lawrie and penalty from the unerring Greig Laidlaw and although Munster managed a 72nd minute try from replacement Danny Barnes, it was very much a case of too little, too late.
Michael Bradley’s men showed a greater hunger and competitiveness from the off and led 16-0 by the end of a first quarter.
Keatley kept his side in touch but it was Edinburgh who seized the initiative in the second half with ten unanswered points in the opening ten minutes that decided the outcome of this affair.
Munster might have survived Laidlaw’s 44th-minute penalty that pushed his side ten points clear, but Lawrie’s try, two minutes later, proved to be the final nail – even though there were 34 minutes still to run.
Perhaps it was as much the lead-in to that score – when Peter Stringer was illegally impeded at a ruck followed by a side entry to secure possession – that took the wind out of Munster’s sails.
And although they had enough time and possession subsequently to claw back the deficit, Munster lacked the nous and in truth things around.
They did manage a Barnes try in the right corner after they looked to have coughed up the chance, but full-back Scott Deasy missed the difficult conversion and Edinburgh had the final say when Laidlaw kicked his seventh successful kick.
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