Leinster edge Munster to win Thomond thriller

Leinster scored two tries during Max Deegan’s sin-binning to edge out Munster 20-19 and win the first Christmas inter-provincial derby at Thomond Park in three years.

Gavin Coombes cancelled out two Ross Byrne penalties with a well-finished 30th-minute try to give Munster a 7-6 half-time lead.

Graham Rowntree’s side mauled through for a penalty try and Deegan’s yellow, only for 14-man Leinster to storm back with tries from Scott Penny and Dan Sheehan, both from tapped penalties.

Munster replacement Patrick Campbell crossed to make it a one-point game, but the BKT United Rugby Championship leaders finished the first half of the season with their 12th straight win in all competitions.

Byrne landed a second-minute penalty for a fast-starting Leinster before Jack Crowley’s turnover penalty kept the Munster try-line intact.

Munster blew their first maul opportunity but despite some good countering from Jean Kleyn and Shane Daly’s elusive running, they ended the opening quarter 6-0 down.

Their captain Peter O’Mahony forced a momentum-changing penalty off a lineout, and Antoine Frisch and Niall Scannell then found holes in the Leinster defence.

Hooker Scannell was stopped short from a tapped penalty, but Coombes twisted his way over from a ruck. Joey Carbery, who had missed an earlier penalty, edged them in front with the conversion.

Leinster, who missed a late penalty through Byrne, suffered a double blow early in the second half. Referee Chris Busby awarded Munster a penalty try, also carding Deegan for collapsing the drive.

Nonetheless, a clever move five metres out saw Penny plunge over for the table toppers and Byrne converted.

Sheehan then drove through two tackles to score in the 52nd minute. Byrne curled over the conversion for a sudden 20-14 lead.

Leinster absorbed a punishing defensive stand, but could not hold out in the 63rd minute when Craig Casey passed wide for Campbell to score in the right corner. Carbery’s crucial conversion fell wide.

Calvin Nash and Campbell combined to foil a likely try for Luke McGrath, and although Munster held Leinster at bay from a maul and a late onslaught, they ended the game in their own 22.