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Munster (14) 35
Tries: Nankivell, Haley, Hodnett, Coombes, Daly Cons: Burns 3, Butler 2
Connacht (19) 33
Tries: Iaone, Murphy 2, Hawkshaw, Forde Con: Iaone 3, Forde
Munster opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with a thrilling 35-33 victory over Irish rivals Connacht at Thomond Park.
Connacht held a 19-14 lead at half-time thanks to a try by debutant Josh Iaone and two scores from Ben Murphy, while Alex Nankivell and Mike Haley touched down for Munster.
The tries kept coming after the restart as both sides secured their bonus point.
However, the decisive score came with 10 minutes to play when Shane Daly scored out wide and replacement Tony Butler landed the conversion.
After a slow start in Limerick, Connacht took the lead in the 15th minute when scrum-half Murphy spotted a gap and fed Shayne Bolton, who set up Iaone to touch down.
Iaone missed the conversion, and although it was early in the game it would ultimately led to Connacht's downfall as the tries and successful efforts from the tee followed.
Connacht got their second try five minutes later when Mack Hansen cut through the Munster defence and fed Iaone.
He popped the ball off to half-back partner Murphy, who gathered the ball and touched down, with the try confirmed after a TMO check for a knock on.
The turning point came when Argentine full-back Santiago Cordero was sent to the sin bin for a reckless tackle on Craig Casey, and Nankivell was on hand to get Munster on the board.
Munster struck again when wing Haley crossed, and Billy Burns, a summer recruit from Ulster, nudged the hosts ahead with his second conversion.
However, the 14 men of Connacht led at half-time when the impressive Murphy grabbed his second try of the game after linking up with Iaone.
The try-scoring continued four minutes after the restart when John Hodnett barrelled over, moments after Diarmuid Barron was held up just short of the line.
Connacht missed an opportunity to nudge back ahead when Iaone's penalty struck the post, and Munster survived after the visitors won the ball back but some ferocious defence saw the ball held up over the line.
However, Munster were punished when David Hawkshaw scored the try of the match. Cathal Forde, Iaone and Dave Heffernan combined with some quick hands and Hawkshaw cut through the Munster defence to score unchallenged.
While Hawkshaw's try was all about pace, Munster hit back through the power of Gavin Coombes.
The number eight collected the ball 10 metres out and used his strength to carry two Connacht players over the line with him, and Burns converted to put the hosts back in front.
Connacht refused to go away and the impressive Forde flew over in the 64th minute off the back of a scrum, and Iaone converted to put five between the sides once more.
Roared on by their home support, Munster had the final say with 10 minutes to play when Daly scored out wide, and 22-year-old Butler, on for the injured Burns, nailed the difficult conversion to secure an opening-day win.
While they fell to a defeat, Connacht have the consolation of taking two bonus points back to the Sportsground.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhan Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Sean O’Brien.
Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (C).
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Sean Jansen.
English (US)