O'Gara's drop-goal lands late victory

Celtic League/Glasgow - 26 Munster - 28: Two scores in the final minute on Saturday saw Munster steal this gripping encounter…

Celtic League/Glasgow - 26 Munster - 28: Two scores in the final minute on Saturday saw Munster steal this gripping encounter from under the noses of their hosts, a long-range drop-goal from Ronan O'Gara cancelling out a late penalty from his opposite number.

Glasgow will feel aggrieved that, having had the lion's share of the possession and played most of the rugby, especially in the first hour, they failed to capitalise on it and gave away three scores direct from kick-offs.

Glasgow made the early progress, a second-minute penalty converted by Dan Parks after a burst from flanker Donnie Macfadyen had caught the Munster forwards going into a ruck from the side. The home team looked hungrier and more purposeful in every department but O'Gara managed to level the scores from another penalty after a rare Munster incursion into the Glasgow half after 15 minutes.

But it was no more than Glasgow deserved when they regained the lead with another penalty, this time after wingers Sean Lamont and Kenny Logan had broken out from the tense midfield battle and the defence was caught offside .

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It was Lamont who created the first try on 25 minutes after scrumhalf Sam Pinder made ground from a quick penalty. Lamont surged into space, stumbled but managed to feed Macfadyen, who ran in unopposed. Parks converted.

Now Munster raised their game and when David Wallace took them close to the line, almost for the first time, Macfadyen gave away a penalty and was sin-binned for a professional foul.

The catch and drive from the lineout that followed was a formality, Frank Sheahan at the bottom of the pile of bodies. But Munster were unable to press home their extra-man advantage and, despite promising breaks from both sides, the tackling was solid and the score remained 13-8 at the break.

Within seconds of the restart, however, Munster had levelled with a try by Christian Cullen wide out on the right. Had O'Gara's conversion not come back off the upright, they would have been nosed ahead.

Glasgow still came pouring forward and after sustained pressure, centre Andy Henderson ghosted through the defence for a second home try. But once again, Munster replied straight from the kick-off, won the ball in midfield and, with some slick handling among the backs, allowed Anthony Horgan to score the try of the game in the left corner.

And they were able to follow it up 10 minutes later with another fine piece of handling in the backs, Cullen on hand to take the inside pass from John Kelly.

Glasgow now had to chase the game, and a powerful surge down the centre was only stopped illegally, allowing Parks to close the gap and then, from a similar infringement, take a one-point lead. But the Irish managed to secure the ball from the kick-off and O'Gara was able to steal a precious victory.

Scorers - Glasgow: Tries - Macfadyen, Henderson; Cons - Parks (2); Pens - Parks (4) Munster: Tries - Sheahan, Cullen (2), Horgan; Con - O'Gara; Pen - O'Gara; Drop-goal - O'Gara.

GLASGOW: R Kerr; S Lamont, G Morrison, A Henderson, K Logan; D Parks, S Pinder; K Tkachuk, G Bulloch, L Harrison, A Hall, D Turner, C Mather, J Petrie, D Macfadyen. Subs Used: A Kelly, A Wilson, J Beattie, G Beveridge.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; S Payne, J Storey, M Mullins, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, T Bowman, T Hogan, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Subs Used: D Leamy, J Kelly.

Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales)