Munster have recorded their second win in the Women's Interprovincial Championship after surviving a late comeback by Leinster at Musgrave Park this afternoon.

Stephanie Carroll crossed with the final act of the game just minutes after Anna Doyle had clawed Leinster within four points, but the hosts dug deep and showed their class to persevere.

Leinster pinned the hosts pack in the early exchanges, a couple of early penalties allowed Dannah O’Brien to kick for the corner with their lineout working well to gain ground toward the line, the red wall looked solid as phases after phase went by, eventually Molly Scuffil-McCabe went back out to O’Brien and she offloaded to the on rushing Jenny Murphy to cross after four minutes, O’Brien landed the conversion for a 7-0 advantage.

The Munster response was swift as they went up the other end of the field and made ground along the touchline, their back row again showing their class and in the build up Deirbhile Nic a Bháird played a great offload but received the ball back to drive over in the eight minute for the opening Munster try, Nicole Cronin levelling with a perfect strike off the tee.

Again the Munster back row was showing its effectiveness at the counter attack, O’Brien launched another missile from a penalty into the 22, again their line out was on point and set the wheel in motion to launch the forward battalion toward the Munster line, standing in the way however was Maeve Óg O’Leary as she caused a turnover and beat the tacklers to race clear beyond halfway until Leinster got bodies back to halt the attack.

Munster used that extra yardage created by O’Leary to stay on the offensive, Dorothy Wall set Alana McInerney free up the wing and she kicked ahead which resulted in Leinster carrying the ball over their own line to touch down, giving Munster a 5m scrum.

The put it was great and the drive pushed Leinster back toward the line, the forwards picked and went to try and breach for a second try but after a number of phases Roisin Ormond crossed over from close range for their second try at the midway mark, Cronin having much better conditions that a week previous to get her second successful conversion of the day.

Leinster looked in search of a reply but it was not coming, they gained the ground but were unable to create a score for the remainder of the half, they pressed and pressed but Munster soaked up the attacks and managed to keep the line safe, it got worse for Leinster as Jenny Murphy was sent to the sin bin after tackling Aoife Corey as she made a clearance kick to relieve pressure.

Ahead 14-7 at half time, Munster took three minutes to increase their lead in the second half, again a well worked move getting within inches of the line and Clodagh O’Halloran was the battering ram to power over for the third from close range, Cronin having a brilliant kicking display to make it a 21-7 lead.

The hits were hard and fierce but Munster were doing everything in their power to keep their lead despite some serious pressure by Leinster, as they started to cause hassle for the Munster defence in the search if reducing the deficit, however penalties proved a hassle for Munster and off another one Leinster would go wide and Elise O’Byrne-White who scored last weekend in Energia Park got over in the corner after 54 minutes for a crucial score, O’Briens conversion on the touchline just fell short as Munster remained ahead 21-12.

Intensity started to die out a little as both sides tried to outsmart the other, it would be a nerving for Munster as O’Leary was shown a yellow card after 71 minutes, with Munster needing to dig deep to hold out on Leeside.

Leinster used that extra advantage to hit a third try late on Anna Doyle making it a four point game with minutes left, but another late twist as Munster went up the other end and substitute Stephanie Carroll gathered wide to cross in the corner to make it a Munster win in the finish up.