Leinster edge past Munster in low-scoring derby

Thomond Park United Rugby Championship

Munster 8 (0)

Kelly Pens: Crowley

Leinster 13 (7)

In a festive United Rugby Championship match at Thomond Park, Leinster held on to defeat Munster 13-8.

In the sixth minute, Josh van der Flier added eight more points from Harry Byrne’s boot to secure the tightly contested victory. He scored the champions’ only try of the match.

Munster were back within five points after Dan Kelly’s try with 10 minutes remaining, but Leo Cullen’s men held on for the win.

Leinster have now won six games in a row in all competitions after losing three of their first four games in the 2025-26 campaign, including a 31-14 defeat by Munster in Croke Park in October.

Leinster’s dominance in the scrum was the main focus in the opening half, which only featured one try.

Munster couldn’t get past their opposing front row, who consistently used the set-piece to relieve pressure with the help of former Leinster player Michael Ala’alatoa, who appeared to struggle on their tight-head side.

Munster continued to enjoy a lot of territory but struggled with accuracy in the crunch despite those challenges.

A Mike Haley knock-on after a subpar Tom Farrell pass put an end to another attack, while Jack Crowley missed touch in what was generally a poor kicking display from those in red.

Leinster had a difficult time turning their own opportunities into opportunities, but Van der Flier’s early goal gave them a 7-0 lead into the break.

After one of those initial scrum penalties, Ronan Kelleher found Caelan Doris from the line-out and the visitors turned around.

When the back row peeled off the back and ran past Craig Casey’s tackle to score, there was no stopping Van der Flier.

Harry Byrne and Crowley traded penalties a quarter of an hour after the restart in what remained a disjointed and low-scoring game after the break.

Byrne scored three more points with the boot as the quarter came to a close, but it became apparent that the game was getting more and more disjointed as both teams turned their benches.

In the closing moments of the match, substitute centre Dan Kelly’s try in the 70th minute gave way to a stirring finish, but Munster were unable to break through the Leinster defense for the telling score.

Given the lack of attacking potential on display, it was a fitting conclusion to such a contest, despite the game’s lack of intensity or ferocity.

Replacements: Hodnett, Loughman, Ryan, Wycherley, Patterson, Kelly, and Barron.

Leinster: Frawley, O’Brien, Ioane, Lowe, Byrne, Gibson-Park, Porter, Kelleher, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Deegan, van der Flier, Doris (capt.).

McKee, P. McCarthy, Furlong, Mangan, Penny, Gunne, Tector, and O. O.