Tom Ahern to spend night in hospital after Munster defeat

Munster's Tom Ahern will spend the night in hospital, while Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony will be assessed for "a couple of little bangs", following the province's 26-23 defeat to the Northampton Saints at Thomond Park.

Graham Rowntree's side secured their place in the last-16 of the Investec Champions Cup courtesy of their losing bonus-point, but that will come as little consolation to the URC Champions who once again let a promising second half lead slip.

To compound the frustration, this second half collapse came against 14 players, with Northampton hooker Curtis Langdon red-carded late in the first half for a knee to the head of Tom Ahern.

The Munster lock looked quite dazed as he was helped from the pitch, with Rowntree confirming after the game that the in-form forward would spend the night in hospital.

The province will also get O'Mahony checked out after he departed midway through the second half. The Ireland captain looked in some discomfort as he stretched his hip during the third quarter, with Rowntree confirming he had picked up a couple of minor knocks.

The defeat will leave Munster as one of the lowest seeds in the last-16, with Bordeaux, Toulouse, Leinster or maybe even Northampton looking like potential away trips in the next round.

And the Munster coach cut a frustrated figure after seeing his side failed to see out what looked at one stage like being a comfortable win.

"We just lost our way," Rowntree said.

"We spoke at half-time about how it wasn't just going to happen against 14 men. Second half we came out and immediately gave some soft penalties away. And then we were doing things that we had spoken about not doing with the ball, running when we meant to kick and kicking when we meant to run. The game just