URC: Munster ease past Ospreys for second URC win of the season

Munster: (18) 23

Tries: McCarthy, Farrell, Nash, O’Donoghue Pen: Crowley

Ospreys: (0) 0

Munster recorded their second United Rugby Championship victory of the season as they beat Ospreys 23-0 in dreadful conditions at Virgin Media Park.

The hosts were able to call upon returning Ireland trio Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and Peter O’Mahony for the game in Cork, in a Munster team that showed eight changes from their defeat against Zebre last weekend.

And they got off to a bright start despite the horrible conditions, with Shay McCarthy scoring the opening try of the game after just 11 seconds.

He finished after Ospreys had dropped Jack Crowley’s kick-off in the blustery weather.

Crowley then won a breakdown penalty and kicked to add three points, before Tom Farrell touched down his first Munster try.

He darted down on 27 minutes after being found by Niall Scannell with Calvin Nash adding a third try late in the first half in the far corner.

Jack O’Donoghue crossed for the bonus-point try on 64 minutes as Munster stretchered their winning run at home to 10 games.

They will next face Leinster in an Irish interprovincial derby at Croke Park on 12 October whilst Ospreys host Bulls.

Team line-ups:

Munster: Haley; Nash, Farrell, Fitzgerald, McCarthy; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Scannell, Jager, Kleyn, Beirne (capt), O’Mahony, Hodnett, O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Barron, Ryan, Archer, Wycherley, Coombes, Murray, Butler, Daly.

Ospreys: Nagy; Hopkins, Watkin, Cokanasiga, Conbeer; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; Thomas, Lake, Botha, Sutton, Beard, Ratti, Morgan (capt), Morris.

Replacements: Parry, Phillips, Warren, Jones, Deaves, Davies, Walsh, Williams.