Munster spent over an hour of the game with 14-men but held on for a crucial Thomond Park victory to keep qualification hopes alive.
Munster clung on for a precious Champions Cup win against Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Saturday evening as the 14 men held on to maintain qualification hopes for the round of 16.
Graham Rowntree’s side led 24-0 at half-time but had been reduced to 14 men after 22 minutes when Jack O’Donoghue was sent off for a high tackle.
Player of the Match Gavin Coombes scored two tries in the first half with O’Donoghue getting the other as Joey Carbery kicked nine points off the tee.
A second-half onslaught from Northampton followed as they chased the victory they needed to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive.
The visitors had reduced Munster’s lead to four points but Jack Crowley’s 75th minute penalty restored Munster’s seven-point lead. Northampton kicked a penalty late on instead of going to the corner as they needed a victory but Munster managed to hold up Northampton on the restart and do enough to clinch a memorable victory.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery (Rory Scannell, 57), Craig Casey (Paddy Patterson, 64); Dave Kilcoyne (Josh Wycherley, 52), Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa (John Ryan, 46); Jean Kleyn (Alex Kendellen, 60), Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (C) (John Hodnett, 64), Gavin Coombes.