Two tries from Mike Sherry and a brilliant performance from Ian Keatley helped Munster to a 35-27 victory over Cardiff Blues in a fantastic GUINNESS PRO12 encounter at Irish Independent Park.

It was a strong start for the visitors though three missed penalties early from Rhys Patchell proved costly in the end.

However, they found themselves 10-0 ahead after 25 minutes before Munster burst into action.

Sherry’s first score got them going before tries for Keatley, Jordan Coghlan and Andy Conway sealed a battling victory.

Cardiff had an early sight at goal with Patchell opting to take on a long kick but his effort fell wide.

Munster were then penalised for not rolling away moments later but once again Patchell couldn’t get his side on the board as his kick sailed wide.

And after ten minutes he had a third effort from the tee after the hosts were penalised for holding on but, once again, his effort was wide.

Cardiff were looking the most likely and they were making the Munster defence work hard to maintain parity.

That pressure brought about the Blues’ fourth kickable penalty and this time Patchell finally got himself on the scoresheet from in front of the posts.

It was all Cardiff and, after 25 minutes, they had the game’s first try as they worked the ball inside from the right before Patchell found Tavis Knoyle who crashed across under the posts – Patchell’s conversion making it 10-0.

Munster sprung to life shortly after and Sherry found some space on the wing to run across and get his side into the game, Keatley’s conversion moving them within three.

Keatley then put his side ahead with a try of his own on 36 minutes and an easy conversion gave them a four-point lead heading into the closing stages of the half.

But Cardiff weren’t done and Richard Smith put the visitors ahead with a score just before the interval and Patchell restored the three-point advantage.

The Blues picked up where they left off after the restart with Tom Isaacs dotting down to extend their lead and Patchell converting.

But Munster were hanging on and they hit back after 53 minutes, this time a kick for the corner brought about a lineout and a driving maul that got Sherry over for his second score of the afternoon and Keatley’s extras brought them within three.

Munster had the chance to level things with 25 minutes remaining but they opted to kick for the corner and began to exert extended pressure on the Cardiff line.

And they had their reward after 61 minutes with a strong drive on the Cardiff scrum that saw Coghlan pick up the loose ball to dot down for a converted score.

With ten minutes left to play Patchell made it a one-point match as he turned over a penalty to bring the scores to 28-27.

But Munster moved closer to victory on 73 minutes when Conway found some space on the left and darted across and Keatley maintained his perfect form with his fifth conversion from five attempts.

A yellow card for Jevon Groves in the process compounded Cardiff’s blues and put the hosts on the brink and, despite some late pressure, they held the visitors at bay and sealed a well-earned win.

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