Leinster have kept their unbeaten streak alive defeating old rivals Munster by the minimum, in an action packed dramatic derby in Thomond Park this evening.

A game full of scores and plenty of entertaining elements of rugby backed by the vocals of a hostile crowd, something we have missed as the last two years have seen cancelations, this game was an ideal curtain closer for 2022.

Both teams gave everything to secure victory but in the end Leinster had a stranglehold of the points and outcome after a second half blitz restored their advantage in the tie as Munster fell to a one point defeat, the losing bonus point leaves Munster in 11th with a New Years Day Inter-Pro next on the agenda to make that top 8.

Munster were pinned back early on but did well to push Leinster backwards as they attempted to clear their lines, Joey Carbery opted for a Garryowen but the kick was poor and allowed Leinster the ability to turnover possession, it was further ow for Munster as they were penalised at the breakdown, not learning from the issues against Northampton with another sloppy penalty given away, it gave Ross Byrne hiss first kick of the evening after two minutes, he made no mistake to land the penalty and break the 900 point mark for his province.

Plenty of toing and froing between the two teams in the first quarter of the contest, both gaining ground through the other showing some ill discipline, again Munster were penalised from a poor clearance not moving away at the breakdown allowed Byrne another shot at the pots and he made no mistake dissecting them once more for a 6-0 lead after 19 minutes o a vocal Thomond Park.

The home support were in need of a lift having seen their team go behind, they had a chance minutes after the second Byrne penalty as Leinster found themselves guilty of a misdemeanour with Carbery pointing the points, the kick had the range but not the accuracy drifting to the left and wide, the contact on the strike may not have been ideal from the fly-half as he looked disappointed not to put Munster on the board.

On the half hour mark the Munster roar reverberated around the stands at Thomond Park, Gavin Coombes getting over for the opening try of the evening, Munster camped close to the line as Leinster were pinned back by poor discipline, Niall Scannell made a great drive as Leinster just held on but Coombes movement needed the TMO’s approval to check if the grounding was good, the try awarded as Carbery notched the close range conversion to move Munster 7-6 ahead.

As the clock ticked into the red, Leinster had one late chance to restore their lead before the interval, yet again Munster quality at the breakdown allowing another chance for Byrne at the posts, this time around it would be his more difficult attempt just on the Munster 10 metre line in a central position, the strike was clean but it just did not make the target, as Munster went in at the break a point ahead.

Just three minutes advanced after the restart before Munster got their second try of the contest, working well off a lineout they drove for the line with the match referee Chris Busby awarding them a penalty try as Max Deegan was sent to the sin bin as a result.

Despite the man advantage Munster would be breached minutes later, Leinster drove well to get shy of the line with Dan Sheehan making waves in their attack, eventually Scott Penny drove quickly and powered past the Munster whitewash to reduce the deficit to one point after 48 minutes.

That sin bin decision looked to have spurred Leinter on as they would notch a second try five minutes later, Munster at sixes and sevens in defence, Keith Earls failing to claim a kick in behind, Leinster took advantage and worked the phases to get closer to the Munster line another penalty gave them a pick and go attempt, with Sheehan the catalyst in driving the maul over and grounding their second try after 53 minutes, Bryne landed a beautiful curling conversion to restore their six point lead in the tie, 20-14.

Having started the half much the brighter the hosts looked shell shocked after those two tries in quick succession, they battled back to try and make something with a sensational 50-22 by Craig Casey giving them zonal position in the Leinster half, using their forwards as battering rams they got closer to the line, the phases ticked up as Munster looked to notch another try, Casey went wide where Patrick Campbell would gather to cross for their third try after 63 minutes, the replacement only on the field for three minutes before scoring, the missed conversion made it a one point game 20-19.