Munster 36 Edinburgh 15: A six-try salute to their Thomond Park faithful was an ideal send-off for Munster before next weekend's Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Leinster.
Declan Kidney's side got back to winning ways in the Celtic League - after a three-game blip - scorching over for six tries in a morale-boosting defeat of Edinburgh.
Federico Pucciariello, Shaun Payne, Jerry Flannery and Ian Dowling did the damage in the first half with John Kelly and a penalty try confirming Munster's fifth successive win against Edinburgh after the break.
The Scots were very much in contention in the first half. Their captain Scott Murray showed a neat turn of pace to finish off a 16th-minute try, and only some vigorous defence from Munster prevented Edinburgh from adding to their first half tally.
Murray's replacement in the second row, Dave Duley did get over for a try with eight minutes remaining, but it was an ultimately meaningless score with the hosts out of sight.
It was typically punchy start from Munster with Italian prop Pucciariello going on the peel off a lineout and powering over for a fourth-minute try - his second in as many league games.
Outhalf Paul Burke missed the extras and the former Harlequins had an off-night with the boot, landing just three conversions.
Some great interplay between Alastair Kellock and Alasdair Dickinson put Murray romping through for a quick reply. Duncan Hodge converted for the lead, and Allister Hogg almost got in for another try for the visitors. Full-back Payne halted his 30-metre run close to the Munster line.
Four minutes later, winger Anthony Horgan was harshly sin-binned for going over the top of a tackle on Simon Webster. That seemed to be the turning point for Munster as they added three tries before the break to go 22-7 in front.
Payne cut through the tackle of prop Craig Smith for the first. Edinburgh then had full-back Hugo Southwell yellow-carded for a late tackle on Dowling.
Moments later, hooker Flannery was on the end of a lineout maul for another try and Dowling got his revenge and Munster's bonus point try when he took a bouncing ball on his left flank and evaded the tackle of Peter Jorgensen to score.
Five minutes into the second half, Hodge gave the Gunners hope with a 35-metre penalty.
However, a 66th-minute penalty try - with the ball kicked out of a Munster scrum - and a wonderful score, two minutes later, from centre Kelly, who linked brilliantly with David Wallace in the build-up, saw Kidney's men coast clear to go third in the table, setting up an Irish 1-2-3.
PA
