Munster slipped to their second successive defeat in the RaboDirect PRO12 as the Ospreys maintained their grip on top spot ahead of a three-week break in league action.
Rhys Webb’s breakaway try in the 56th minute was the essential part of this nail-biting victory for the Ospreys. The loss marked Munster’s first league reversal at Thomond Park since April 2010.
This top of the table clash was stop-start throughout and the wet conditions made for a tight, forwards-dominated game.
Lively Munster centre Danny Barnes scored the only try of a poor first half, the Ospreys hitting back through the boot of Dan Biggar to reduce the arrears to 10-6 by the interval.
Webb’s score, which was sparked by Barry Davies’ intercept, edged the Welsh region in front and a last-minute penalty from Biggar settled the issue.
In their first competitive outing at Thomond Park since last season’s grand final win, Munster got off the mark after only three minutes’ play.
Hanno Dirksen’s clearance kick in the 22 was charged down by Barnes who collected the loose ball and touched down to the left of the posts. Ian Keatley swiftly turned it into a seven-pointer.
The Ospreys dominated territory in the opening period and had the platform of a strong scrum in which Duncan Jones was able to exert pressure on youngster Stephen Archer.
A scrum penalty saw Biggar split the posts with his first penalty attempt, only for the Munster scrum to earn a penalty in response and Keatley restored the seven-point advantage.
The place-kickers were both denied by the uprights and in the second quarter, the Ospreys were unable to convert their pressure into points.
Joe Bearman was hauled down just short of the try-line, and Biggar was also swallowed up just in front of the Munster posts.
Tony McGahan’s charges were living off scraps of possession and both sides struggled to keep hold of the greasy ball, making for an error-strewn, listless encounter.
In the final minute of the half, Archer gave away a scrum penalty and Biggar drilled his kick over from a right-sided position for a 10-6 scoreline at half-time.
Referee James Jones reached for his yellow card when Archer collapsed a scrum, four minutes into the second half, and Biggar was successful with the resulting penalty from 40 metres.
It was advantage Munster when Denis Fogarty rumbled into the visitors’ 22 and Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric was promptly yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
However, Keatley’s penalty attempt cannoned back off a post and Munster’s advances on the Ospreys line – aided by solid scrimmaging from replacement BJ Botha – were thwarted.
Just as Munster piled forward five metres out from the whitewash, a loose pass was intercepted by Davies. The full-back set off on a lung-bursting run and despite the presence of Doug Howlett, some neat passing from Davies and Richard Fussell sent the supporting Webb sprinting over in the left corner.
Some niggle crept into proceedings following a clash of heads between Botha and Richard Hibbard, and the former then won a penalty which Keatley converted for 14-13.
Biggar watched a drop goal shot come back off the right hand post and an attempt from Davies from further out drifted wide to the right.
Into the dying minutes, Munster again got to within metres of the Ospreys line only to lose the ball at the breakdown and the siege was lifted.
Rubbing salt into the reigning champions’ wounds, the Ospreys pack then won a scrum decision from referee Jones and Biggar added the clinching three points with the last kick of the night.
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