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Munster will contest his first Guinness PRO14 final in four years after defeating closest rivals Connacht 20-17 at Thomond Park.
Joey Carbery came off the bench to kick the game-winning penalty in the 68th minute that gives Munster an impregnable 12-point lead at the top of Conference B.
Matt Healy’s try in the fourth minute put Connacht 10-7 ahead at half-time, while a forward-inspired effort from James Cronin briefly tied Munster.
Ben Healy squared things off from the tee before Mike Haley and Paul Boyle exchanged tries, and both Bundee Aki and Chris Cloete spent time in the trash.
Munster showed his talent for the big games when it mattered most. Carbery got the points that mattered and his forwards fired their maul, setting up a decisive match on March 27 against Leinster or Ulster.
Full match details
Connacht got off to a dream start, Jack Carty used a fastball from a scrum to make a pass and put Matt Healy on a seven-pointer from the left.
Munster was held back twice in his attempts to respond to either side of a fumble penalty from Aki. However, the pressure finally manifested itself in the 22nd minute, and Cronin sank after a series of good carries.
Ben Healy’s leveling conversion was canceled by a Carty penalty. Gavin Thornbury, the eventual man of the match, also increased his influence with a series of steals at the lineout and penalty shootout victories.
Munster’s high midfielder Healy missed a long-range penalty just before the break, but hit the mark in the 43rd minute to make it 10-10.
A tough call saw Aki dumped in the trash for a deliberate hit, but Munster didn’t benefit and Healy took another deflected penalty.
Winger Haley provided the necessary inspiration for Johann van Graan’s men with a graceful try in the 57th minute. He picked up John Porch’s infield kick, slipped past Dave Heffernan and landed his own kick to score.
The newly introduced Carbery converted to make the score 17-10, but Connacht quickly responded with a roar. A penetrating attack that started with Matt Healy devouring a clever kick from Carty made Cloete see yellow, close to his own line.
Having opted for a scrum, Connacht was rewarded a couple of phases later when number eight Boyle shrugged off Damian de Allende to collide with him. Carty coldly converted to match.
Frustratingly for Connacht, the hands on Aki’s ruck allowed Carbery to regain the lead. Munster’s pack did the rest, earning more penalties to seal Connacht’s fate.
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