Munster maintained their good form with a 19-13 win over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.
YESSSS! Extremely hard-fought win at the Liberty Stadium, well done lads! #OSPvMUN #GuinnessPRO14 #SUAF ? pic.twitter.com/CJ5ZqIEx5T— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 22, 2025
Before the game there was one change to the line-up with Tadhg Beirne being named in the starting XV after Jean Kleyn missed out through illness.
The away side started the brighter and were rewarded for their efforts five minutes in when JJ Hanrahan sent a beautiful floated pass over to Darren Sweetnam on the left wing, who rushed past a couple of defenders to touch down.
Hanrahan added the extras and it was 7-0 in the blink of an eye.
18 minutes in and the Ospreys were level as Hanno Dirksen getting over following a Keelan Giles break and chip allowed him through the Munster defence.
Luke Price was on hand to slot over the conversion and the teams were level.
The hosts took the lead in the 32nd minute thanks to a Price penalty.
However, their lead didn’t last too long as Munster put on the pressure, with man of the match Beirne eventually breaking through and looking to touch down off the bottom off the post only for the ball to be knocked away by Sam Cross.
MOTM | There’s no off button for this guy! ?
Another 80 minute man of the match performance from Tadhg Beirne after coming in as a late starter after a 5-week injury lay off ?#OSPvMUN #SUAF pic.twitter.com/6MV4OCOiyx— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 22, 2025
After a review from the TMO, a penalty try and yellow card were awarded and it was 14-10 to Munster at half-time.
HT | Munster are just ahead at the Liberty Stadium thanks to a @D93sweets try converted by @JjHanrahan & a penalty try in the opening forty.#OSPvMUN #SUAF pic.twitter.com/Rq33I2h07L— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) February 22, 2025
The second-half was a tough affair and it took another Price penalty to open the scoring in the 62nd minute. At that stage the Ospreys were within a point of Munster, but the reds marched on.
With the pack making some hard yards, Bill Johnston sent the ball out wide left to Mike Haley, who recorded their third try of the night.
The conversion was missed, but Munster held out for a hard-fought 19-13 win.
The win means Munster remain top of Conference A, a point ahead of Glasgow Warriors, who defeated Connacht tonight. While the Ospreys stay fourth for now having played a game more than both the Cardiff Blues and the Cheetahs.
Next up for the Ospreys is a visit to Connacht next weekend, while Munster travel to the Scarlets seeking to keep pushing for that top spot come the end of the season.
Match Highlights:
