Leinster fight back to beat Munster in URC derby

Leinster fought back to secure a bonus-point win over Munster in a bruising United Rugby Championship derby at Aviva Stadium.

A year on from a stirring win over their rivals at Croke Park, Munster raced into a 13-0 lead through Shane Daly's try and eight points from the boot of 20-year-old fly-half Charlie O'Shea.

However, Tommy O'Brien hit back for Leinster before half-time after being set up by fit-again scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, who notched three try assists in an eye-catching display.

Ryan Baird and Charlie Tector's second-half tries edged an increasingly dominant Leinster in front before Jamie Osborne's late score secured the home side's bonus point.

Having been held scoreless since the 29th minute, full-back Ben O'Connor crossed in the final minute to secure a losing bonus point for Munster.

While the two sides' internationals prepare to enter Ireland camp before November's Nations Championship fixtures, Leinster host Connacht in another interprovincial fixture on Friday (19:45 GMT) before Munster welcome the Sharks to Thomond Park on Saturday (17:30).

As ever when these fierce rivals lock horns, there was a plethora of intriguing sub-plots, from hooker Dan Sheehan's surprise switch to number eight to Munster's first outing since only two of their players made the latest Ireland squad.

But similarly to last year's Croke Park tussle, Munster looked fired up from the start and edged ahead through O'Shea's penalty after James Ryan's high tackle on Kieran Brookes.

Finding both set-piece and breakdown joy, Munster scented blood and scored the game's opening try when O'Shea, Sean O'Brien and Craig Casey combined in flowing fashion to put Daly through.

Intent on maintaining scoreboard pressure, O'Shea stretched the away side's lead with a wind-assisted penalty from just inside his own half after Alex Nankivell forced a turnover.

Leinster needed a surge of inspiration before half-time, and returning playmaker Jamison Gibson-Park - one of 11 British and Irish Lions in their starting line-up - delivered.

Following a Leinster scrum five metres out from the Munster line, the Ireland scrum-half flung an inch-perfect pass out to right winger O'Brien, who skipped past Ben O'Connor to score.

There was controversy when Munster back row Gavin Coombes alleged he was grabbed in the groin by a Leinster player.

After consulting with the television match official (TMO), referee Andrew Brace told Munster captain Tadhg Beirne there was no conclusive footage to review, although the incident could be referred to the citing commissioner.

Early in the second half, momentum shifted when a penalty awarded to Munster was reversed following a late tackle by Brookes.

From there, Leinster kicked into Munster territory and left with a converted try nearly 10 minutes later when Baird forced his way over the line after a spell of sustained pressure, with Nankivell sin-binned following a string of Munster infringements in the build-up.

Joey Carbery, deputising for the injured Sam Prendergast in his first start since returning to Leinster, converted to bring the hosts to within a point.

With Nankivell off the field, Leinster pounced on a missed Munster line-out to launch an attack that culminated with Gibson-Park teeing up Tector to give the home side the lead for the first time with 16 minutes left.

After a lengthy stoppage following a serious injury sustained by Daly, Leinster went hunting for the bonus-point score and found it when Gibson-Park sent Osborne through eight minutes from time.

O'Connor's late score ensured Munster did not leave Dublin empty-handed, but given their early ascendancy, it proved a disappointing night as Leinster's persistence and big-game prowess told.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O'Brien; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shay McCarthy, Sean O'Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Charlie O'Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus Van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala'alatoa, Sean Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O'Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.