GLASGOW gave Munster a wake-up call as the Irish giants tried to step up their preparations for the Heineken Cup final.
The province were treating the last Magners League tussle of the season at Musgrave Park as a dress rehearsal for the Cardiff showdown with Toulouse.
But the Warriors provided a lot more than just the training run than they might have anticipated
and snatched the lead in the 16th minute, thanks to a terrific piece of opportunism by makeshift scrum-half Colin Gregor. He sent a deft lob into enemy territory which bounced perfectly, allowing him to create the space and time to send winger Lome Fa'atau in for the try, which was converted by Dan Parks.
Two minutes later, Glasgow stunned the home troops again as hooker Dougie Hall galloped over virtually unopposed when he intercepted Ian Dowling's quick but careless throw-in. Parks again added the extras.
There was a cruel blow for the visitors immediately afterwards, however, as prop Moray Low was stretchered off with a serious looking ankle injury. Low had been in line to make his international debut during Scotland's forthcoming tour in Argentina, but his involvement must now be in doubt.
Munster burst back into the contest when Anthony Foley scored after a charge down the narrow side and Ronan O'Gara's wide-angled kick was spot on. He followed up with two stoppage time penalties to cut the gap to one point.
But Glasgow gave themselves a cushion in the second half when Thom Evans scored after a kick and chase, although there was doubt over the ball being grounded properly. Parks banged over the conversion. The tension mounted as Paul O'Connell snapped up a second Munster touchdown, but Glasgow held on.
Munster: D Hurley; A Horgan, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell, D Ryan, A Foley (capt), A Quinlan. Replacements: T Buckley, M Horan, D O'Callaghan, D Leamy, D Wallace, P Warwick, K Earls.
Glasgow: : B Stortoni; L Fa'atau, M Evans, A Henderson, T Evans; D Parks (capt), C Gregor; J Va'a, D Hall, M Low, O Palepoi, D Turner, K Brown, J Beattie, J Barclay. Replacement: F Thomson, K Tkachuk, A Newman, J Eddie, S Pinder, S Barrow, G Morrison.
Scorers: Munster – Tries: Foley, O'Connell. Cons: O'Gara. Pens: O'Gara 2. Glasgow – Tries: Fa'atau, Hall. T Evans. Cons: Parks 3.
Referee: J Jones (WRU)
The full article contains 420 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
