Having strung four victories together on the trot in recent weeks, the Glasgow Warriors’ final match of the season was a game too far for Sean Lamont’s side. They went down 38-20 to Munster at Musgrave Park this evening but still finished as the top Scottish side in the Magners League.

The Warriors went in to the game full of confidence following the recent wins over Leinster, Connacht, Ulster and the Ospreys but a perfect end to the season wasn’t to be as a clinical Munster side outplayed the Glasgow visitors.

Warriors coach Sean Lineen said: “We were well beaten tonight. It was a game too far and some of the players switched off. Ultimately that’s disappointing but we’ve had a good run in the past weeks. It has left a sour taste in the mouth to lose the way we did.

“We struggled to get the phases and Munster were more clinical in what they did. I have to say Rory Lamont was outstanding in his last match with us and he stood out as someone who didn’t give up,” he added.

Munster led from the start with tries from inside centre Lifeimi Mafi and blindside flanker Alan Quinlan. Stand-off Ronan O’Gara converted both scores while adding a penalty as Glasgow’s Dan Parks notched three points from a penalty, taking his side 3-17 down into half time.

The second half saw Parks close the gap with a further penalty but Munster forged ahead as Quinlan took a second try before openside Denis Leamy added another. O’Gara converted both but Glasgow hadn’t finished as first No 8 John Beattie touched down, converted by replacement Colin Gregor, before centre Graeme Morrison crossed, for Parks to convert. On full time, Munster sealed the victory as Shaun Payne scored for replacement Jeremy Manning to add the final conversion.

Glasgow Warriors: 15. Francisco Leonelli Morey 14. Rory Lamont 13. Graeme Morrison 12. Scott Barrow 11. Thom Evans 10. Dan Parks 9. Graeme Beveridge 1. Justin Va'a 2. Scott Lawson 3. Moray Low 4. Andy Newman 5. Alastair Kellock 6. Steve Swindall 7. Donnie Macfadyen 8. John Beattie

Substitutes: 16. Fergus Thomson 17. Kevin Tkachuk 18. James Eddie 19. Andrew Wilson 20. John Barclay 21. Colin Gregor 22. Hefin O'Hare

Munster: 15. Denis Hurley 14. Anthony Horgan 13. Barry Murphy 12. Lifeimi Mafi 11. Ian Dowling 10. Ronan O'Gara 9. Tomas O'Leary 1. Federico Pucciariello 2. Frankie Sheahan 3. Tony Buckley 4. Mick O'Driscoll 5. Paul O'Connell 6. Alan Quinlan 7. Denis Leamy 8. Anthony Foley

Substitutes: 16. Denis Fogarty 17. Frank Roche 18. Donncha O'Callaghan 19. John O'Sullivan 20. Brian O'Meara 21. Jeremy Manning 22. Mossie Lawlor

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This article was posted on 12-May-2007, 22:59 by Hugh Barrow.