Seven-try Munster put Connacht to the sword

Munster ran in seven tries to boost their BKT URC standing, while Connacht's play-off hopes suffered a setback.

Graham Rowntree's side were the better side in a sunny Limerick but poor execution kept the visitors in the game for longer than they should have been.

Tries from RG Snyman and Calvin Nash had the hosts 14-7 up at the break with Byron Ralston's score keeping Connacht in touch.

But Munster, up to second in the table ahead of Leinster's evening kick-off against Ospreys, hit Pete Wilkins' side for five further ties in the second half as man of the match Alex Nankivell, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Tom Ahern and Shane Daly all touched down.

The result puts huge pressure on Connacht's hopes of a top-eight finish. They slip to ninth after Stormers, Ulster, Edinburgh and Benetton all picked up wins in round 16. Connacht host the Stormers next weekend before finishing their season away to Leinster.

Munster go to Edinburgh and host Ulster in their remaining fixtures.

It was a first half that slowly came to life and save for a brief flash of hands by the Connacht backs that came to nothing when Ralston overran a pass, was almost completely dominated by the home side.

Munster, on the front foot thanks to big carries from Jack O'Donoghue and Alex Kendellen in the main, practically camped inside the Connacht 22 for the first 30 minutes.

But a combination of last-gasp defence and poor execution meant the home support had to wait until 25 minutes in before they had something to cheer.

Before that, with slow scrums contributing to a muted atmosphere among the 20,183 in attendance, Snyman knocked on close to the line after Jack Crowley had faked a kick to touch from a penalty, and Kendellen came off second best in a one-on-one with