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Rugby Union

O'Gara kicks Munster to victory

04/11/2007

Ronan O'Gara returned from World Cup duty to help Munster climb to fourth in the Magners League table with a 19-16 win over Edinburgh last night.

The Irish fly-half kicked 14 points, including the winning penalty one minute from full-time, and also set up Denis Leamy for his side's only try of the game.

O'Gara put his side ahead in the third minute but Munster had little to show for their dominance midway through the first half.

This was then compounded as David Blair kicked a penalty to level the scores. Edinburgh caused themselves difficulties when Ross Ford was sin-binned for an illegal challenge on Peter Stringer.

O'Gara converted the resulting penalty to restore Munster's lead but they could not pull away from a defiant Edinburgh side as Blair kicked a drop goal two minutes later.

Munster thought they had gained a decisive advantage when Leamy scored in the corner, diving on top of O'Gara's well-weighted kick.

However, just before the break Edinburgh hit back with a try of their own. Hugo Southwell and Andrew Turnbull got the Scots close to the Munster line and prop Allan Jacobsen was able to dive over from close range.

With the scores level at 13-13 at the break the second half turned out to be a cagier affair than the first.

Blair slotted over another penalty in the 63rd minute to give the visitors the lead briefly before indiscipline got the better of them again.

Jacobsen pulled down a maul in the 75th minute which saw him sin-binned and allowed O'Gara to level the scores. Then with time expiring, the fly-half calmly slotted over a 42-metre effort to win the game.