As Young Munster moved into the top four, flanker Mutu Te Pau was not getting carried away, despite this emphatic victory over DLSP at Kilternan on Saturday.

The New Zealander was more than happy to see Paul O'Connell grab the headlines after the second row had bagged three tries, but believes there is still a long way to go. "In a league like this you can't take anything for granted. We have Terenure next week and without Peter (Clohessy) and Mike (Mullins) it's going to be an exceptionally tough game," he said. "But it will open the door for other players, which is good for morale."

Nonetheless, when DLSP centre Shane Stephens went over in the corner with 13 minutes left there had been hope among the home supporters that DLSP might produce a comeback. But that never materialised as O'Connell and club captain Mick Lynch put the game beyond their reach with tries in the last five minutes. The bulk of the damage, however, was done in the first half, in which a powerful performance from the Young Munster pack was instrumental in ensuring that DLSP - who welcomed back Dave O'Riordan back for the first time this season - were trailing 22-7 at the break, courtesy of tries from O'Connell (two) and right wing Finbar Hogan.

DLSP: E Devitt; C Cadigan, S Stephens, D McCabe, P Costello; S Broughton, B Hogan; M Kavanagh, S Sarsfield, D Masters, R Frost, P Mc Donnell, D O'Brien, S O'Donnell, A Wood. Replacements: D O'Riordan for Devitt (27 mins); D Dobson for Masters (41), K Wheelock for McDonnell (58 mins)

YOUNG MUNSTER: M Connolly; F Hogan, M Mullins, L Doyle, C Casey; M Lynch, D Reddan; P Clohessy, B Cantrell, M Fitzgerald, D Peters, P O'Connell, M Te Pau, C Gallagher, M Ngarimu.

Referee: G Doyle (URF).