Munster 20-15 Cardiff: Jack Crowley stars as hosts grind out win

Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley scored 15 points as Munster battled past Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship at Thomond Park.

After Tadhg Beirne’s try, Ben Thomas and Thomas Young responded to put Cardiff into the lead.

However, Crowley converted his own try and added a further penalty to extend Munster’s lead, and the hosts held on despite Jacob Beetham’s late penalty.

Munster remain fourth in the URC table while Cardiff stay 12th, with just three wins from their 13 matches.

Cardiff welcomed six Welsh internationals – Josh Adams, full-back Cam Winnett, back row Alex Mann, hooker Evan Lloyd and props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti – back into their starting team in Limerick.

In a low-scoring first half, Cardiff impressed but Munster had a try ruled out when John Hodnett touched down only for play to be brought back for a knock-on by Shane Daly in the build-up.

After Crowley’s first-half penalty Beirne’s try extended Munster’s advantage following the interval, but Thomas ran in an intercept try from inside his own 22 to get Cardiff on the board.

Munster prop James Ryan was sent to the sin-bin and the visitors immediately capitalised when Young scored from a maul.

Crowley then spotted a gap in the Cardiff defence to respond for the 14 men, with the Ireland fly-half converting his own try and adding a penalty to take his tally to 15 points.

Beetham kicked a late penalty to earn Cardiff a bonus point to bring back to Wales.

Munster: Mike Haley; Sean O’Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Joey Carbery, Simon Zebo

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Ellis Jenkins, Mackenzie Martin

Replacements: Rhys Carre, Evan Lloyd, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Thomas Young, Matthew Aubrey, Jacob Beetham, Theo Cabango

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (IRFU), Matteo Liperini (FIR)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)