Munster opened their URC season with a thrilling 35-33 win over Connacht which saw the home team take the win in a seesaw battle with both teams scoring five tries each.
Connacht fly-half Josh Ioane was the only thing to separate these interprovincial rivals, each of whom collected a four-try bonus point and the visitors added a losing bonus point which ensured they did not return home empty-handed.
Connacht had opened a 12-0 lead through Ioane and fellow debutant Ben Murphy, his half-back partner, Munster hitting back through man of the match Alex Nankivell and Mike Haley tries, only for the visitors to take a 19-14 lead into the half-time break thanks to a second try for Ben Murphy just before the halftime break.
Munster hit back straight after the break through John Hodnett, Connacht responded through David Hawkshaw and the tit-for-tat continued as Gavin Coombes’ score was cancelled out by Cathal Forde.
Crucially Munster’s goal kickers had been more accurate, debutant fly-half Billy Burns nailing three conversions as Ioane slotted three from his four before Tony Butler added another two-pointer for the home side.
However, Connacht’s dreams of repeating their famous 2015 and 2021 wins in Limerick were dashed when Daly scored from a Haley pass and Butler’s right boot did the rest.
Scorers:
Munster Rugby: Tries: Alex Nankivell, Mike Haley, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes, Shane Daly. Conversions: Billy Burns (5).
Connacht Rugby: Tries: Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy (2), David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde. Conversions: Josh Ioane (3), Cathal Forde.
Teams:
Munster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Ruadhán Quinn, 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron (c), 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Alex Kendellen, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Seán O’Brien.
Connacht Rugby: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Cian Prendergast, (c) 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley. Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Sean Jansen.