Limerick native Shay McCarthy started on his Champions Cup debut, and crowned the occasion with an excellent try.
Munster were made settle for a draw on Saturday, as Bayonne produced a late fightback in Thomond Park to snatch a draw in the Investec Champions Cup.
Munster had held a 14-3 lead at the interval, having went over for two good first-half tries.
Bayonne were making their first ever appearance in the competition, and they got off to great start when former French scrum-half Maxime Machenaud put his side in the ascendency with a penalty after five minutes.
Limerick native Shay McCarthy marked his Champions Cup debut with an excellent try, and Munster began to get on top.
McCarthy’s try was converted by Jack Crowley, and the Red Army led 7-5 after ten minutes.
Ben O’Connor was thrown in the deep end for his Champions Cup debut at full-back, with Munster having lost winger Seán O’Brien to injury, prompting Calvin Nash to move to the wing.
Gavin Coombes touched down for the home side before the break, and Crowley’s conversion made it 14-3 at half-time.
Bayonne were sustaining pressure after the interval and they reduced the margin seven minutes after the restart when Fijian Luke Tagi scored, with Machenaud converting to make it 14-10.
Both sides began emptying their benches and Munster extended their lead when Crowley added a penalty after 54 minutes to make it 17-10.
Bayonne went over for their second try after 77 minutes from winger Rémy Baget, and out-half Thomas Dolhagaray nailed a crucial conversion from the left to tie the game at 17-17.
A late 37-metre drop-goal attempt from Crowley was off target, and Graham Rowntree’s men were made settle for a frustrating home draw.