A HUGE defensive effort from Blues was not enough to give them a winning return to the Arms Park.
Blues had been absent for over a year while their ground was being used as a hospital forcing them to take up residence at first Rodney Parade and then the Cardiff City Stadium.
Their international flanker, Ellis Jenkins, had been away for even longer with a leg injury that put him out for over 800 days but on his second game back he was at the forefront of a committed display from his side.
Blues director of rugby Dai Young said: “Ellis' recovery has been remarkable. He has been superb for the whole 80 minutes in both games.
“However the game was a mirror image of last week's against Connacht as once again we were unable to manage the last ten minutes.
“There was a considerable difference in experience out there but Irish provinces know how to win when the going gets tight. For most of the game we were a match for the runaway leaders.”
There was merit in Young's view as Blues possessed the more potent backs with Owen Lane looking sharp and Mason Grady appearing to be a real prospect.
Jenkins was well supported up front by Josh Turnbull but for all Blues' heroic defence, Munster should have won more convincingly.
Their pack dominated possession and territory with Jean Kleyn and Jack O'Sullivan at the forefront but their backs lacked creativity and could make no headway.
Blues took the lead when a burst from Grady got them moving forward before a well-timed pass from Ben Thomas sent Seb Davies through a gap to score. A few minutes later, Davies was yellow-carded for a dangerous entry into a ruck but the only score in the lock's absence was a JJ Hanrahan penalty.
Davies returned before Hanrahan and Thomas exchanged penalties to leave Blues with a 7-6 interval lead.
Hanrahan hit the crossbar with a penalty and Thomas kicked one before Munster finally got their reward when Kleyn crashed over after a succession of forward drives.
Thomas missed with two penalties in quick succession before Munster sealed victory when an unstoppable lineout drive resulted in Niall Scannell crashing over. Hanrahan's touchline conversion deprived Blues of a bonus point.
■ By ROGER PANTING
Cardiff Blues 11-20 Munster – player ratings
CARDIFF BLUES: Morgan 6, Lane 7, Grady 7, Lee-Lo 7, Summerhill 6, Thomas 6, Hill 6 (Jones 65, 6), Domachowski 6, (Bevacqua 72, 6), Myhill 7 (Belcher 40, 6), Arhip 7 (Assirrati 65, 6), Davies 6, Thornton 6 (Ratti 61, 6), Lewis-Hughes 6 (Robinson 61, 6), Turnbull (c) 7, Jenkins 9. Not used: Llewellyn, Fish
MUNSTER: Haley 6, Nash 6 (Sweetnam 74, 6), R. Scannell 6(Carbery 63, 6), de Allende 7, Daly 6, Hanrahan 7, McCarthy 6, Cronin 6 (O'-Connor 52, 6), O'Byrne 7 (N.Scannell 52, 7), Ryan 6 (Salanoa 52, 6), Kleyn 9, Wycherley 7 (Holland 63, 6), O'Donoghue (c) 7 (Coombes 63, 6), Cloete 7, O'Sullivan 8
Not used: Patterson
REFEREE: Adam Jones
Star man: Ellis Jenkins – Blues
