Munster dished up another dose of injury-time heroics as Ronan O’Mahony’s last-gasp try denied the 13-man Scarlets at Musgrave Park.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: MUNSTER 16 SCARLETS 10
JJ Hanrahan – the scorer of Munster’s match-winning try in Perpignan last Saturday – turned provider for the province’s latest comeback win, with his cross-field kick sending Ronan O’Mahony over in the right corner.
The young out-half added the conversion for good measure as the Scarlets’ brave bid to end the RaboDirect PRO12 leaders’ seven-match winning run fell agonisingly short.
Rob Evans (73 minutes) and Mike Poole (76) were sin-binned in quick succession as Simon Easterby’s men scrapped for what would have been a rare win on the road – the Welsh region have only beaten Connacht away since November 2012.
Aled Thomas and man-of-the-match Hanrahan kicked a penalty apiece as the sides went in at the break on level terms (3-3), with neither try-line truly threatened.
That changed on the resumption as Munster made a lacklustre start to the second half in allowing flanker John Barclay to touch down under the posts.
Hanrahan kicked two penalties to close the gap and although he missed a 69th minute shot at the posts, the Kerry native took centre stage in another riveting rescue mission.
Despite the wintry conditions, there was a free-flowing start to the game and plenty of activity in the Munster half before Gareth Maule was wayward with a drop goal attempt.
Hanrahan also missed the target from a seventh minute penalty after Gareth Owen prevented a quick lineout by throwing the ball away.
Ivan Dineen was prominent for the hosts in defence and attack, but the Scarlets took the lead in the 14th minute thanks to a meaty penalty from out-half Thomas.
A well-executed lineout maul with new hooker Duncan Casey piling into the Scarlets’ 22 set up Hanrahan for his levelling 23rd-minute kick.
Thomas missed a chance to move the Llanelli outfit back in front on the half hour, following good carries from Richard Kelly and busy scrum half Rhodri Williams.
An injury to Casey brought former Ireland Under-20 captain Niall Scannell on for his competitive debut for the province, who also had to take off tighthead prop BJ Botha after he picked up a knock.
The Scarlets, who did the double over Munster last season, bolted into a 10-3 lead early in the second period thanks to Barclay’s converted effort just two minutes in.
Kristian Phillips spearheaded a break from deep and Aled Thomas then found a gap between Scannell and Hanrahan, with Barclay on his shoulder to take the scoring pass.
Thomas converted and Munster were quick to respond with Hanrahan’s right boot punishing Ken Owens for going off his feet at a ruck.
Although the hosts’ passing let them down at times, Munster were beginning to gather some momentum and Hanrahan made it a one-point game after Josh Turnbull infringed in front of the posts.
Turnbull came to the Scarlets’ rescue when he kicked the ball from Duncan Williams’ grasp as Munster probed close in for an elusive try. A subsequent penalty from distance was missed by Hanrahan.
Things started to unravel for the visitors when prop Rob Evans was binned for some loose play at a Munster lineout, and then replacement Poole saw yellow for a tip tackle on Barry O’Mahony, Ronan’s brother.
The breakthrough looked like it might not come as Rob McCusker marshalled an impressive show of resistance from the Scarlets, and Munster abandoned their hopes of a drop goal when Duncan Williams dummied and scampered through a gap.
The home side attacked from a couple of close range rucks before Hanrahan’s well-delivered kick out to the right sat up nicely for O’Mahony to score. Television match official Dermot Moloney cleared a potential knock-on in the build-up and referee Nigel Owens was happy that O’Mahony was onside for the ruck, allowing Munster to celebrate another nail-biting victory.
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