Munster moved up to fifth in the Magners League with a six-point New Years Eve win over Connacht.

Munster’s unbeaten record against their Irish west coast rivals stretches back for 20 years. But the visitors to the Galway Sportsground had to overcome two yellow cards on the way to victory.

John O’Sullivan and half-time replacement fly-half Ronan O’Gara were sent to the sin bin either side of the break. These indiscretions, combined with less-than-perfect conditions, nine changes of personnel from midweek and a dogged Connacht pack did not make things easy for Munster.

After a scoreless opening quarter Mark McHugh opened the scoring for the hosts with a 22nd minute penalty. With the wind behind them Munster opted to play with ball in hand, and the tactic paid off with two penalties in 10 minutes for O’Gara’s stand-in Jeremy Manning.

O’Sullivan was sinbinned in first-half injury-time, and with the flanker still off the field five minutes after the break Gavin Williams scored the first try for Connacht. O’Gara was subsequently sinbinned for dissent but in the 55th minute Munster had their revenge when Tomas O’Leary was sent over the line by Peter Stringer.

The scoring – if not the weather – dried up, but O’Gara had the satisfaction of sealing the game with a 78th minute penalty.