JOEY Carbery said this was a defining victory for Munster as they start heading into the business end of the season.
The out-half was superb as Munster scored their first away Irish derby win in seven games to give them a boost heading into two Champions Cup weekends.
“We’re delighted. It’s such a tough place to come in the last few years and we’ve fallen short.
Huge credit to the boys, we stuck to our guns and we came back.”
Peter O’Mahony, Dan Goggin (twice) and Joey Carbery all scored tries as Munster claimed a bonus point win and top spot in Conference A.
Jack Carty pulled Connacht to within a converted try in the closing stages, but Andy Friend’s side were unable to claim their fourth try and had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Excellent centre Tom Farrell gave Connacht an early lead when he dispossessed Arno Botha inside halfway but Munster soon took control.
They got back on level terms when Keith Earls broke to send skipper O’Mahony over and they hit the front when centre Dan Goggin crashed over for the third time this season and Carbery converted again to make it 14-7 after 25 minutes.
Jack Carty pulled back a penalty to leave it 14-10 at the break and less than a minute after the restart Connacht hit Munster again Once more Tom Farrell’s linebreak saw them break clear and Kelleher raced clear down the right to score. Carty’s conversion from the right was perfect for a 17-14 lead.
But Munster hit back after 49 minutes when Alex Wootton and Tadhg Beirne made ground after a break by Earls and scrum-half Alby Mathewson picked out Goggin on the left with a brilliant pass and the centre bagged his second try.
Carbery slotted the touchline conversion and soon stretched Munster’s lead to seven points with a penalty after 57 minutes, and his try wrapped up the bonus point win.
Connacht didn’t give up and flanker Colby Fainga’a did superbly to break and offload and send Carty in under the posts for a converted try which left just seven between them with as many minutes remaining.
The best betting sites
