Munster’s defence, led by Man of the Match, Peter O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue, produced a masterclass to defeat Exeter at Thomond Park.
The wins marks the Reds passage from the Heineken Cup Last 16 to the quarter-finals by virtue of an 11-points aggregate win from the two legs.
The seal on the tough, gritty performance was set by a 74th minute Damien de Allende 74th following a brilliant inside pass from Simon Zebo in a tackle.
But, make no mistake, an ice-cool performance from Joey Carbery had delivered four penalties, a super solo try and two conversions for the winners.
“That was a Munster performance to be proud of,” said Johann van Graan afterwards.
“Exeter keep the ball well and we were extremely disciplined about when to go for the ball. We gave them soft entries last week but we were far more disciplined this week.
“Pete O’Mahony is a man for the big occasion and he certainly put on a performance out there, that’s what you want your captain to do, perform on the big day.
“I’d said to Joey Carbery earlier in the week that when I met him years ago that I’d told him he was a special player and that today was the day I wanted him to show that and he certainly responded.
“Zeebs is the man for the big moment and that pass to Damian de Allende for the try was pretty special.”
As it was Carbery had opened the scoring with a straightforward penalty following Munster’s first attack of the day.
The visitors were still two points ahead on aggregate and, intriguingly, on going back onto attack turned down three kickable penalties, preferring to run at the line from close range.
Scrum-half Jack Maunder took the third one quickly and surged for the line where a panicked Conor Murray attempted to tackle him, earning himself a yellow card in the process.
Munster’s response was swift, earning a kickable penalty 18m from where Carbery duly obliged to bring the score to 6-7.
There was a Red try in the offing, coming from a ruck set up in centre field from which Carbery, taking the first pass, ran at the Exeter line, threw an outrageous dummy in de Allende’s direction, dropped his shoulder and raced over.
The same player’s conversion pushed the score out to 13-5 and Munster had taken a three-point lead on aggregate.
Joe Simmons did have a chance with a long range penalty on the blow, his effort going wide right before Exeter, unapologetically, arrived out for the second-half and more of the same.
Tight-in ball-carriers tested the defence and, indeed, after seven minutes of practically owning the ball were close to the Munster line again.
The kickable penalty came and once again Jack Yeandle signalled for it to be run; a second penalty came and Yeandle tapped quickly and went himself from where, a couple of phases later, Jaques Vermeulen crossed.
Simmonds stepped over this third attempt at goal - and missing again, albeit hitting the post this time.
O’Mahony managed the next big Munster play gaining a penalty which resulted in Carbery kicking three while the same player landed a long range penalty to push the home side’s lead out to four with 16 minutes to play.
But Munster’s best score was to come as they worked the ball from right to left in the Exeter half and from where Carbery almost had a pass picked off.
Mike Haley recovered the ball and fired it long and wide left to Zebo who hared down the line and delivered a magical one-handed pass inside to de Allende.
The South African powered on for the line and, taking a tackle, leapt spectacularly though the air to touch down - Try of the tournament? Try of Munster’s tournament definitely!
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