Munster 27 - 19 Glasgow: Glasgow crash to defeat after Munster's second-half surge

They had been clinical in taking every chance on offer to fight their way back into the game and set up a platform from where they could have pushed on for at least a bonus point. Although they will leave Limerick disappointed, the character and competitive spirit they showed will stand them in good stead for the last four league games of the season.

Glasgow immediately invited pressure on themselves from their own kick-off. Johnnie Beattie fired a misdirected pass which failed to find Kelly Brown. Dan Parks picked up the loose ball and was immediately turned over. The clever grubber behind the Glasgow defence by home full-back Paul Warwick was just scrambled away. This early scare should have been a wake up call to the visitors. It wasn't and they hardly ventured out of their own half for the opening quarter of the game.

Ronan O'Gara had the first chance at the posts after only seven minutes when Glasgow were penalised for holding on to the ball on the floor. He pushed the straightforward attempt to the left of the posts to the amazement of the Thomond faithful.

Munster continued to dominate territorially, although the Glasgow scrum was winning free-kicks and penalties through its dominance of the more experienced home tight five. The Glasgow lineout was solid too, and it was the strength of the set-pieces that was keeping them in the game.

The big crowd found its voice when Munster mauled their opponents 20 yards down field, which was soon to lead to greater rewards. They took a quick tap penalty and moved the ball left to right. Centre Lifeimi Mafi made a half break and attracted three defenders before off-loading to winger Ian Dowling. He threw an accurate pass to right wing Denis Hurley, who was hugging the right touchline, and he touched down in the corner without a hand being laid on him. O'Gara missed the extras.

Glasgow opened their account through a low, long-range, drilled penalty from Dan Parks after Munster were caught offside. And, just when the Scots looked like they were establishing a foothold in the game, centre Graeme Morrisson was yellow carded for a, idiotic block on Dowling, who was chasing a high ball.

Munster then upped the ante but were victims of trying to force the extra man advantage. O'Gara threw a long pass which was taken by Glasgow skipper John Barlcay at head height just outside his own 22. Barlcay was soon into top sprinting gear being chased down by the cover defence. The Scotland flanker had more than enough gas to score a spectacular long-range try which Parks converted.

Munster, though, regained the lead with another O'Gara penalty almost from the restart after Glasgow had encroached offside. The half-time score of 11-10 was more than Glasgow deserved but they had taken their chances well.

The expected fierce onslaught from the home side duly came at the start of the second half. Glasgow were more than strong enough to repel the red barrage and even forced a penalty turn over under their posts much to the disgust of the home support. They cleared the ball up field and started to string a few phases together. Munster No8 James Coughlan stopped one such move but failed to release the tackled player. Parks stepped up to bang over another long range penalty from the Munster ten metre line. O'Gara and Munster responded through two quick-fire penalties to restore the lead. Moray Low was unfortunate to be penalised for the first of these for an alleged squint drive in the scrum where he had Marcus Horan in trouble all night. The second was the result of indiscipline in the lineout when jumper Alan Quinlan's lifter was dangerously taken out.

The stream of penalties continued against Glasgow when they received their second yellow card of the evening, this time substitute prop Kevin Tkachuk was given ten minutes rest by referee James Jones. O'Gara was duly on target. With Munster pushing further and further ahead it seemed like the Scots were fading. Dan Parks, though, had other ideas and two long-range penalties narrowed the gap to one point with under ten minutes to go.

Centre Jean de Villiers thought differently. He took the ball on the Glasgow 22 from Mafi, ran through Peter Murchie and slid between the weak attempted tackles of Morrison and O'Hare to brilliantly touch down one-handed in the right corner. O'Gara added the extras to deny Glasgow even a bonus point.

Scorers: Munster: Tries - D. Hurley, De Villiers; Con - O'Gara. Pens - O'Gara 5. Glasgow: Try - Barclay; Cons - Parks; Pens - Parks 4.

Munster: P Warwick; D Hurley, L Mafi, J de Villiers, I Dowling; R O'Gara capt, P Stringer; M Horan, D Fogarty, T Brugnaut; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, D Ryan, B Holland, N Williams, D Williams, T Gleeson, D Howlett.

Glasgow: B Stortoni, M Evans, P Murchie G Morrison, D van der Merwe, D Parks, C Cusiter, J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, R Gray, D Turner, K Brown, J Barclay (capt), J Beattie. Subs: F Thomson, K Tkachuk, T Barker, R Vernon, M McMillan, C Gregor, H O'Hare.

Ref: J Jones (Wales). Att: 20,000