MAGNERS LEAGUE:Ospreys 21 Munster 25  MUNSTER RECLAIMED pole position at the summit of the Magners League after Tomás O'Leary's late winner sank nearest rivals the Ospreys. O'Leary scored the match-winner with seven minutes remaining to add to Lifeimi Mafi's first-half try at the Liberty Stadium last night. James Hook booted 21 points for the hosts but it was not enough to deny Munster.

Skipper Paul O'Connell said: "We badly needed a performance and a win. It had been a tough and long week for the lads with the seven-day turnaround after the Ulster defeat."

Munster got off to the perfect start through Mafi's try in the third minute. Wing Ian Dowling beat the tackle of outhalf Hook before O'Connell kept the ball alive. Dowling helped out his skipper before feeding Mafi to race home. Referee Andy Macpherson opted to use television match official Nigel Whitehouse who awarded the try.

Paul Warwick dragged his conversion wide before he and Hook booted penalties in a pulsating opening 10 minutes. Hook kept the hosts in touch with a 45-metre kick as the opening quarter drew to a close.

Munster re-established a five-point advantage when Warwick landed his second penalty after Filo Tiatia was attempted to disrupt the visitors' attacking lineout. Hook failed to capitalise on a kickable penalty on the half hour.

Ospreys should have got level before the break but wing Jonny Vaughton was forced into touch by O'Leary. A minute later, Hook was given the same treatment on the far touchline.The hosts finally put points on the scoreboard before the interval when Hook slotted home his third penalty to leave Munster leading 11-9 at the break.

Hook kicked the Ospreys in front for the first time on 46 minutes before extending the lead with a 50-metre kick three minutes later. Munster replacement Conan Doyle, on for the injured Warwick, instantly reduced the lead to one point.

Shane Williams lit up the contest with a dazzling counter-attack which saw Dowling yellow-carded for deliberately killing the ball. Hook added his sixth penalty from in front of the posts and the Ospreys led 18-14.

But Ospreys flanker Steve Tandy suffered the same fate as Dowling and Doyle landed the routine penalty on 61 minutes.

Then O'Leary pounced from Mafi's pass with seven minutes remaining before sealing the win with a late penalty. Hook fired his seventh penalty to set up a grandstand finish but Munster held firm.

OSPREYS:L Byrne; J Vaughton, S Parker (D Biggar 45), A Bishop, S Williams; J Hook, M Phillips; P James (capt), R Hibbard (H Bennett 56), C Griffiths, AW Jones, J Thomas (L Bateman 71), T Smith, F Tiatia, S Tandy. Replacements: R Bevington, M Holah, R Webb, K Phillips. Yellow card: Tandy 61.

MUNSTER:D Hurley; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick (C Doyle 37-40, Stringer 71), T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, J Hayes (T Ryan 13-26), D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt) A Quinlan (M O'Driscoll 60), D Wallace, D Leamy (J O'Sullivan 68). Replacements: D Fogarty, T Gleeson. Yellow Card: Dowling 55.

Referee:Andy Macpherson (SRFU).