Munster gave their Celtic League chances a major boost with a 29-21 victory over Newport at Musgrave Park, Cork.

Both sides needed a win to keep alive their hopes of qualification for the knock-out stages and a try either side of half-time for the Irish champions laid the foundations for their victory.

Newport had control for the first half thanks to a 34th-minute try from scrum-half Dale Burn and his half-back partner Jason Strange's superiority with the boot over Lions fly-half Ronan O'Gara.

But just as Munster were staring at a 13-3 interval deficit the Irish side's pack sprung to life in first-half injury time.

Their captain Nick Galwey collected a line-out throw from Frankie Sheahan and set up Sheahan at the spearhead of a Munster drive which sent the Irish hooker over the line for a crucial try.

O'Gara converted to bring the score back to 13-10 and as the half-time whistle blew it was Munster who headed for the dressing room with their tails up.

The restart confirmed Munster's ascendancy with Sheahan and Galwey again the hub of the action at the line-out.

This time Galwey found scrum-half Peter Stringer and it was his reverse pass that found number eight Anthony Foley who crashed through Newport's defences to touch down next to the post.

That score put Munster into a lead they did not relinquish.

Strange kept Newport in touch with a penalty but Munster had the bit between their teeth.

The Welsh side were rattled and substitute Matt Pini was ordered to the sin bin in the 56th minute for persistently roaming offside.

O'Gara added three Munster penalties in quick succession to seal the home side's victory.

Though Newport grabbed an injury time try through substitute Chris Anthony their qualification hopes had by then all that expired.