FRANKIE SHEAHAN scored the only try of the game as Munster came from behind to win this top-of-the-table Celtic League clash in Cork last night. The Neath-Swansea Ospreys are now only ahead of Munster on points difference, with Leinster trailing six points behind in third, after gaining a bonus point in this narrow defeat.

The relationship between these sides was strained after the Heineken Cup clash at the Gnoll in October, when Ospreys wing Richard Mustoe received a one-month ban for stamping on Munster prop Marcus Horan.

The match was played in non-stop driving rain, which made for a very heavy pitch and a slippery ball and the home side jumped in front after nine minutes when fly-half Ronan O’Gara, who was made captain for the night in recognition of his 50th Heineken Cup appearance the previous week against Castres, kicked over a 20m penalty.

But the sides were soon level when Ospreys centre Gavin Henson slotted over a fine kick from over 40 metres, when the visitors were awarded a penalty by Scottish referee Iain Ramage.

With Celtic League supremacy at stake, Munster included 19 of the 22 who were on duty in their impressive win over Castres, but they found themselves trailing to the Welshmen seven minutes before the break when Henson — touted by some as a strong contender for the Lions No 12 shirt next summer — kicked his second penalty of the evening.

But just before half-time there was a major talking point when Ospreys No 8 Ryan Jones was shown a straight red card by Ramage for stamping on Munster’s second-row Donnacha O’Callaghan in the middle of the park.

But despite being reduced to 14 men, the visitors dug in and stretched their advantage to six points when Henson was again successful with a penalty attempt just five minutes into the second half.

With underfoot conditions deteriorating, Munster gave the soaked home supporters something to cheer about when O’Gara landed his second penalty after 50 minutes.

Lifted by this score, the Irishmen had an impressive 10-minute spell, but the Ospreys defence stood firm and halted Munster’s pack in their efforts to score a pushover try in the corner.

Munster’s pressure was eventually rewarded when Irish international hooker Sheahan rose with

the ball after he was helped across the line for the only try of the game by his fellow forwards. O’Gara added the conversion to give the home side victory.

But there is sure to be a close encounter when these two sides meet again in Limerick, in a vital Heineken Cup match on January 8.

STAR MAN: Frankie Sheahan (Munster)

Munster: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, P Devlin; R O’Gara (capt), P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, G McIlwham, T Bowman (T Hogan 62min), D O’Callaghan, A Quinlan, J Williams, D Leamy

Ospreys: A Durston; E Seveali’i, S Parker, G Henson, S Williams; M Jones, J Spice; P James, R Hibbard (C Wells 60min), A Jones (A Millward 67min), A Newman (B Cockbain 72min), J Thomas, J Bater (capt), R Jones, S Tandy (R Pugh 77min)

Scorers: Munster: Try: Sheahan Con: O’Gara Pens: O’Gara (2)

Ospreys: Pens: Henson (3)

Red card: Ospreys: R Jones (40min)

Referee: I Ramage (SRU)

Attendance: 3,500