Wallace inspires Munster

Celtic League: Munster overtook Connacht in the Celtic League table with a convincing win in their final home game of the season at Thomond Park last night. They scored six tries to one and Christian Cullen broke his duck by claiming his first home try four minutes from the end, converting for good measure.

Munster led 20-0 at the interval after dominating the first-half, during which Connacht managed to break into the home 22 just once.

A mix-up on a Connacht lineout near their own line after nine minutes gifted Anthony Foley the opening try for a 5-0 lead. Anthony Horgan was adjudged to have placed a foot in touch before touching down five minutes later before Jeremy Staunton kicked a penalty after 25 minutes to stretch the advantage to 8-0.

Munster had a second try disallowed eight minutes from the break, when Jason Holland's long pass to David Pusey was adjudged forward, but the home side weren't to be denied, David Wallace scoring twice in quick succession.

The flanker popped around the front of a close range lineout to touch down in the corner four minutes before the break and then added a second in the first minute of stoppage time.

Constant Munster pressure ended with a yellow card for Connacht prop Dan McFarland, who encroached on the wrong side of a ruck.

From the subsequent scrum Munster worked a back-row move which yielded the third try, converted by Staunton.

Connacht were twice down to 13 players during the second half, following the sin-binning of John O'Sullivan and Peter Bracken, but an Eric Elwood penalty and his conversion of a penalty try cut the deficit to 20-10 after 56 minutes.

Munster responded with three tries in the closing quarter as Holland, Pusey and fullback Cullen rounded off a pleasing display, which did much to erase the nightmare in Cardiff last week.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan; J Staunton, E Reddan; M Horan, J Flannery, G McIlwham; D O'Callaghan, D Pusey; A Quinlan, A Foley (capt), D Wallace. Replacements: M Mullins for Horgan (64 mins); T Hogan for O'Callaghan (65); S Keogh for Pusey (70); M Prendergast for Reddan (71); F Roche for McIlwham (75); S Kerr for Horan (76).

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C O'Loughlin, D Yapp, M McHugh, C McPhillips; E Elwood, M Walls; D McFarland, B Jackman (capt), P Bracken; D Browne, A Farley; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: P Neville for Lacey (61 mins); P O'Sullivan for Yapp (68); J Fogarty for Jackman and M McCarthy for Browne (both 73).

Referee: H Watkins (Wales).