WATCH: Late Hanrahan kick edges Munster into Pro14 semi final with Leinster

A late JJ Hanrahan kick was enough to edge Munster into a Pro14 semi final on a 20-16 scoreline but will leave Johann van Graan and the Munster management in no doubt that huge improvement will be needed at the RDS on May 19th with Leinster looming on the horizon.

The opening minutes of the game saw both sides testing the waters but an early knock on by Andrew Conway who failed to gather a high ball presented Edinburgh  with at attacking scrum platform just outside the Munster twenty two.

The Scottish side showed plenty of attacking ambition but some good defensive  work at the breakdown forced a penalty and an opportunity to clear lines through the boot of Hanrahan.

Minutes later a fine Hanrahan kick pinned Edinburgh back on their own five metre line and when Stuart McInally’s throw went beyond the reach of his jumper, Rhys Marshall was alive to claim the overthrow and fend off some poor tackling for the first try. Hanrahan added the extras and Munster had a 7-0 lead after ten minutes.

It's the home team who get off the mark first, as @Munsterrugby's Rhys Marshall takes advantage of an @EdinburghRugby mistake in the lineout to trick his way over 👏

Catch it live now on @SportTG4, @SkySports and @bbcalba 📺#MUNvEDI #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/4CdkjSekRj

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 5, 2018

Edinburgh should have levelled three minutes later when a Hidalgo-Clyne and van der Walt combined to cut through the Munster defence. With a huge overlap on the right flank, second row Grant Gilchrist somehow decided to cut back inside, allowing Munster’s stretched cover to make a tackle. A knock on from the next phase meant the visitors would come away empty handed.

The Munster front row was forced into an early change as Stephen Archer departed for Ciaran Parker. Eighteen minutes in and a silly penalty conceded by James Cronin was punished by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne who slotted from just outside the ten metre line to cut the deficit to four points.

Richard Cockerill woud have been very satisfied with the opening quarter as his side were asking plenty questions of the Munster defence. Another ruck infringement, this time for not releasing in the tackle presented Hidalgo-Clyne with his second opportunity off the tee which he knocked over to make it 7-6.

Despite the game being a knockout fixture, it lacked knockout intensity as Munster’s defence seemed a few notches below what it should have been. The Munster scrum then intervened to force a penalty but Hanrahan was wide right from  forty metres and the score remained as it was.

Darren Sweetnam replaced Conway on thirty minutes as the winger departed for a HIA. The game was low on quality and accuracy with the last ten minutes of the first half a largely forgettable affair which was brought to an end by a Munster knock on.

The opening half was more like pre season than post season with both sides aware that the performance levels were not good enough. The only chance at the break saw Sweetnam replace Conway on a permanent basis.

It took only three minutes of the second half for the game to spring into life. With Nigel Owens almost at the end of a penalty advantage, Simon Zebo chip kicked to himslef before a superb looping pass off his left side put Keith Earls in at the corner.

What a try! 🏉@SimonZebo shows why Thomond Park will miss him with a beautiful chip and pin-point pass out to the electric @KEITHEARLS87 ⚡️

Catch the rest of the second half on @SportTG4, @SkySports and @bbcalba now 📺#MUNvEDI #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/bNbweCfJCU

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 5, 2018

Hanrahan converted from the touchline to extend the lead to 14-6. It was another piece of Zebo magic and something the Thomond Park faithful will undoubtedly miss next year.

Munster were now starting to apply pressure in the right parts of the field and when Nigel Owens penalised the visitors for an offside offence dead in front on the twenty two, JJ Hanrahan made no mistake to push the lead out to 17-6.

Edinburgh needed to respond and when Munster were caught offside at a ruck, Hidalgo-Clyne slotted the kick before departing to be replaced by Nathan Fowles. 17-9 and the visors were back in the game.

Two minutes later and the Scots were back to within a single point. A poor Zebo kick to Bill Mata presented the number 8 with a chance to counter and set up a good attacking platform inside Munster territory.

A sweeping move to the left hand side of the pitch resulted in some poor ruck defence from the home side. Fowles identified that Muster were short numbers at the ruck and took advantage to snipe over from just inside the twenty two before van der Walt added the extras to cut the gap to 17-16.

Game on! 🏉

Replacement scrum-half Nathan Fowles comes on and scores almost immediately to close the gap between @Munsterrugby and @EdinburghRugby to one point!

Watch the conclusion to the semi-final qualifier on @SportTG4, @SkySports and @bbcalba 📺#MUNvEDI #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/3r3SnPgxGC

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) May 5, 2018

The Scottish side were now right back in it and for Munster could count themselves lucky that they held that lead considering they only had 37\% of the ball and 35\% of the territory after 70 minutes.

With the crowd starting to get a little nervy, Edinburgh were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. It was a huge opportunity to calm nerves and Castleisland native Hanrahan wasted no time in dissecting the posts with a superb kick to make it 20-16 with six minutes remaining.

Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Qualifier, Munster’s JJ Hanrahan kicks a penalty
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Nerves somewhat calmed but still plenty of work to do against an Edinburgh side with the potential to score tries. Munster looked to see out the remaining minutes but not releasing in the tackle would give Edinburgh one last chance.

With time up, Munster just needed to hold their defensive shape and discipline. Another poor penalty from Munster for flopping on the wrong side meant van der Walt could find touch on Munster’s twenty two for one last shot.

Season on the line and a lineout steal would see the home side through. Up stepped Peter O’Mahony to make a mess of the Edinburgh lineout before Murray ushered the ball into touch and Munster into the semis.

All roads will lead to the RDS on May 19th but Munster have a lot of work to do between now and then.