Munster 35-29 Glasgow: Hogg hat-trick in vain as sloppy Glasgow lose out

Normally a player who pulled off that sort of achievement would dominate the limelight, but Hogg could only think about how his side shot themselves in the foot.

He said: “It was great to get on the scoresheet, but it is the result that matters. It was a pretty disappointing outcome. We just never turned up in the first half. We were just not good enough against a team of that calibre.”

Hogg’s feat was Glasgow’s first competitive treble since Rory Lamont’s spree against the Scarlets at Stradey Park exactly seven years ago, a match in which his brother Sean bagged a double. Previously, Roly Reid notched a hat-trick at Hughenden against Pontypridd.

The Munster fans accorded Hogg a special ovation, with referee Nigel Owens – one of the world’s leading officials – saying: “Stuart has lots of potential and has a bright future.”

However, it meant little to Hogg and the Glasgow support, whose night was spoiled by carelessness and slack discipline as home marksman Ian Keatley claimed a six-penalty haul.

Hogg, nevertheless, salvaged what could turn out to be a vital point when he completed his hat-trick in the dying seconds.

Glasgow’s coach Sean Lineen accused his side of being naive in terms of second-guessing whistler Owens. He said: “It was such a frustrating day for us. Our discipline wasn’t good at all. Munster always challenge you around the discipline area.

“You need to make sure you watch yourselves and we didn’t do that. They are a very streetwise side and we paid the price. I think we conceded 14 or 15 penalties.

“We look at it now and our discipline and defence weren’t good, which are usually strengths of ours.”

On the performance of Hogg, Lineen added: “He was outstanding. As an individual effort in attack he was fantastic. It was just disappointing that we couldn’t back it up with a good defensive display. We showed some tremendous character in that second half to come back and take a losing bonus point and Stuart took his tries really well.”

The consolation point kept Lineen’s men in the top four and they must take a full haul from Treviso next weekend to keep their title aspirations alive.

Ruaridh Jackson had given Glasgow a decent start with a penalty, only for Munster to take control with a Keatley penalty and a try from winger Luke O’Dea.

Jackson, however, rediscovered his touch to slot an angled penalty, which repaired some of the damage. But an offside verdict allowed Keatley to restore his team’s five-point advantage.

Munster’s rising confidence was underlined when they opted for an attacking line out in lieu of another pot at goal. And the gamble paid off on the stroke of the interval when Peter O’Mahoney squeezed over for another touchdown, goaled by Keatley. Glasgow, however, couldn’t have wished for a better start to the second half, with Hogg bursting into the contest in spectacular fashion. He collected a pass 50 metres out and left the home markers for dead with a wonderful piece of sprinting.

Jackson connected well with the conversion, but luck wasn’t with him as the ball crashed back off the post. And the pressure was back on the visitors as Keatley banged over a penalty.

However, Hogg produced another moment of magic within 60 seconds to cruise in. But again the good work was tarnished by carelessness at the other end, with Keatley taking his penalty tally to six, with Glasgow substitute Duncan Weir hitting the target twice to set up a tense finale.

The plight of the Warriors deepened when Federico Aramburu was needlessly yellow carded.

And when Connor Murray wriggled over there was no way back for Glasgow, although Hogg completed his treble to salvage some pride, with Weir converting.