Celtic League/Munter 15 Dragons 7:Munster took advantage of the Dragons' ill-discipline to claim a come-from-behind Magners Celtic League victory at Musgrave Park on Saturday.
The opening 40 minutes were quite forgettable and had a typical end-of-season feel.
Midway through the half Marcus Horan was asked to cool his heels for a spell in the sinbin after taking exception to some obstruction, though the whole incident was clearly in the "handbags" category.
The Dragons, though, couldn't capitalise and it was Munster who went closest to the breaking the deadlock, losing possession under the crossbar before O'Gara kicked a 30th minute penalty to secure a 3-0 lead.
But the Ireland and Lions outhalf turned villain just before the break, shovelling out a pass to no-one in particular.
The ball was picked up by his opposite number, Aled Thomas, who sprinted in from 35 metres for the first try, which he also converted, having earlier missed three penalties.
The game turned in the opening minutes of the second half, when two Welsh players, flanker Jamie Ringer and number eight and captain Michael Owen, were shown yellow cards in separate incidents.
First, Ringer was sent to the sinbin within minutes of the restart following an altercation on halfway.
Then, as Munster moved along the right touchline in search of a badly needed try, having turned around 7-3 down, Owen joined his fellow backrower in the bin after what was deemed a dangerous challenge on the man of the match, Mick O'Driscoll, in the air at a close-range lineout.
The Dragons were now reduced to 13 players and just six forwards, but they somehow survived intense pressure as Munster, in a reflection of the game generally, compounded mistake with mistake, invariably fumbling with the try line beckoning.
As the patience of the 5,000-strong crowd began to wear thin and with only seconds left on Ringer's sinbin clock, Munster at last achieved the breakthrough.
The Welsh were penalised for not releasing near their own line and a Munster drive ended with a Donncha O'Callaghan try, which Ronan O'Gara was unable to convert.
O'Callaghan's joy was short-lived, however, as he suffered a hand injury in receiving the restart and had to be replaced by David Wallace, resulting in Alan Quinlan's move to the second row.
At least Munster had retaken the lead at 8-7 after 55 minutes and while the Dragons were restored to their full complement with Owen's return just before the hour, the home side stung them with a second try moments later.
It again followed concerted pressure in the visitors' 22, Munster effectively wheeling a Welsh scrum and capitalising to the full on their own ball, when Denis Leamy broke to force his way over for a try that this time was converted.
That made it 15-5 after 63 minutes and the Munster faithful were a lot more contented.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; I Dowling, B Murphy, L Mafi, B Carney; R O'Gara (capt), T O'Leary; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Leamy, J O'Sullivan. Subs: M Lawlor for Carney, injured (37 mins), D Wallace for O'Callaghan, injured (58 mins), F Pucciariello for Horan (62 mins), B O'Meara for Lawlor, injured (77 mins),
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: M Thomas; R Fussell, P Emerick, P Dollman, A Brew; A Thomas, A Walker; A Black, B Daly, R Thomas; A Hall, P Sidoli; J Bearman, M Owen (capt), J Ringer. Subs: S Jones for Daly and I Gough for Hall, (both 69 mins), K Morgan for Brew, injured (76 mins).
Referee: A MacPherson (Scotland).
