{"id":26102,"date":"2022-04-29T17:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T21:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26102"},"modified":"2022-05-02T11:14:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T15:14:32","slug":"victory-over-cardiff-confirms-munsters-urc-play-off-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26102","title":{"rendered":"Victory Over Cardiff Confirms Munster’s URC Play-Off Spot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Munster’s Craig Casey runs in a try during Friday night\u2019s game against Cardiff (INPHO\/Ben Brady)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Munster guaranteed a play-off berth in the United Rugby Championship and boosted their hopes of a home quarter-final thanks to a 42-21 bonus-point win over Cardiff at Musgrave Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff silenced the Cork crowd with early tries from Seb Davies and Rey Lee-Lo, but Munster hit back before the interval with a brace from Mike Haley and Thomas Ahern\u2019s score on the stroke of half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading 27-14 at the break with Ben Healy having landing five kicks, the hosts leaked an opportunist try to Cardiff scrum-half Lloyd Williams in the 55th minute as the visitors looked to get back into the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Welsh side could not avoid their fourth straight URC defeat as livewire replacement Craig Casey touched down twice to seal a five-try Munster triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a rip-roaring encounter right from the start, Hallam Amos getting on the outside of Conor Murray to send lock Davies over inside two minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jarrod Evans converted and also added the extras to Lee-Lo\u2019s effort

kupbezrecepty.com<\/a><\/div> , which came from another Amos break. Evans tidied up a loose pass and flung the ball wide for the Samoan center to score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In between, Munster full-back Haley flew in behind the posts after nice hands from Rory Scannell and Jack O\u2019Donoghue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Healy converted that score and a penalty from the fly-half closed the gap to 14-10, but Simon Zebo was denied on two occasions as Cardiff, who lost Rory Thornton to a shoulder injury, stood firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Haley sidestepped through in the 25th minute to score from the edge of the Cardiff 22 and Healy\u2019s conversion made it 17-14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amos\u2019 night \u2013 and perhaps his career as he is retiring once this season is over \u2013 was cruelly ended by a hamstring injury after half-an-hour before a Healy penalty made it a six-point game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster snuck in another try just before the break, young lock Ahern driving over for Healy to convert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stop-start third quarter was scoreless until Cardiff scrum-half Williams jinked past John Ryan off a ruck, going in under the posts after James Botham\u2019s initial break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster lifted the tempo in response, Casey the beneficiary of an O\u2019Donoghue offload to bag the bonus point. Fellow replacement Joey Carbery converted to further extend the home side\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster got over the line again with eight minutes remaining, Casey taking a quick tap to duck under Ley-Lo\u2019s tackle and cross from five meters out.<\/p>\n

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