Munster 17 Connacht 0: Paul Warwick led from the front as Munster closed the gap on the Celtic League pacesetters with a hard fought win over Connacht this evening.

Played in terrible conditions at Musgrave Park, the former Connacht outhalf knocked over four first-half penalties to open a 12 point gap before Denis Leamy's try ten minutes from time sealed the points.

Warwick coped better with the elements his successor at Connacht Andy Dunne, controlling the game in the opening period when the home side had the ferocious wind at their backs and punishing indiscipline from the visitors.

Connacht were unable to exploit the conditions after the break, failing to gain decent field position and rarely threatening the Munster line.

John Kelly, making his final appearance in a Munster shirt, was denied one last score before he bows out of the game.

Munster: D. Hurley, Kelly, Lewis, Mafi, Dowling, Warwick, Stringer, Pucciariello, Sheahan, Buckley, O'Callaghan, D. Ryan, Leamy, Ronan, Foley. Replacements: Hurley for Kelly, Coughlan for Ronan

Connacht: Duffy, Yapp, Riordan, Wynne, Treviranus, Dunne, O'Loughlin, Wilkinson, Flavin, Loughney, Swift, Gannon, McCarthy, O'Connor, J. Muldoon. Replacements: McPhillips for Treviranus, Rigney for Muldoon, Farley for Gannon, Browne for Swift