David Corkery on rugby: Peter O'Mahony and Munster didn't let emotion distract them
Peter O'Mahony of Munster leaves the pitch after playing his last game for Munster in Thomond Park. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
It was panicky for 50 minutes, but in the end Munster's bite was thankfully that little bit bigger than Ulster’s bark.
These are the games where it matters not how you get the job done, just as long as you do. Considering the consequences associated with losing for both sides, it was expected every confrontation was going to be full-on.
Even though Munster had a far from faultless day at the office, they were the ones who returned to the dressing room with a considerable amount of pressure removed.
In a week where all the eyes of the world were either focused on a little chimney in Rome or Andy Farrell's Lions squad announcement, both Ulster and Munster were beavering away in their training camps praying that their efforts would be enough to have them finish in the URC top eight.
It now looks highly likely Ulster will compete in Europe’s second division; Munster’s fate lies completely within their own hands and there is nothing else you can ask for. Next up, Ulster are on the road in Edinburgh while Munster will be welcoming Benetton to Cork, where a win should be enough to see them hold on to their Champions Cup ticket.
With greats Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer all playing their last game on the hallowed surface of Thomond Park, it would have been very easy for Munster to lose focus.
Munster were able to channel their emotion in the right direction and fully deserved their bonus-point victory.
In the build-up, Ulster coach Richie Murphy claimed the team selected was the strongest he was able to field all year.
Plagued with injury after injury during the season, they were able to call on many of their first-choice players for the first time in months. Just because you are deemed fit, it doesn’t mean you are match-fit though. And judging from the amount of huffing and puffing that Michael Lowry and Iain Henderson were doing in the first half, it was very obvious that Murphy's decision to start these players turned out to be the wrong one.
The two yellow cards that Ulster were shown didn’t exactly help their cause either, but I still think Munster would have held the upper hand.
Munster captain and Lions ticket holder Tadhg Beirne had his best game of the season and his relentless efforts at the breakdown offered the Ulster forwards a challenge that they simply had no answers for.
Time after time Beirne put his hands, head, shoulders and everything else into ruck after ruck and either frustrated the hell out of Ulster’s scrum-half or ended up with the ball. As Munster's only representative in the Lions, he truly showed his allegiance to the province on Friday night.
Man of the Match Tom Farrell has found another gear ever since he joined. I would think that Connacht would love to have him back in a green jersey again, but he is just too valuable for Munster now and I doubt it very much if he would even consider moving back.
His place-kicking was well below the level required and his passing wasn’t as sharp as it normally is, but there comes a time in every international's career when they either get down and dirty.
From what we’ve seen of Crowley thus far in either a red or green jersey, I honestly believe he has everything it takes to regain the Irish number 10 jersey and become one of Munster’s great players.
Next week’s game against the sticky Italians will be no walkover, but the momentum Munster need is there now and they can have no excuses.
Well done to all.
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