The reaction underlined the poignancy of the occasion. Connacht players who had trudged slowly, and even limped, from the pitch when substituted sprinted to re-join their teammates at the final whistle.
After 29 years, Connacht had secured a precious victory at Thomond Park, a feat only once previously achieved and in doing so they also brought to a conclusion a run of 37 matches – 36 defeats, one draw – without a win away from home against their provincial siblings, since they beat Leinster in 2002.
No one would begrudge them this success. They deserved to win for many reasons, not least their character in adversity. A man down having just conceded a contentious penalty try to have an eight-point lead cut to one, Connacht stuck to the principles.
It would have taken less courage to 'pick-and-jam' but instead they trusted their skills to execute a gameplan. When they returned to full muster, Robbie Henshaw, as he did several times, particularly in those final 15 minutes, took responsibility in possession, and it was his gorgeous sidestep and pass that allowed Bundee Aki to squeeze over in the corner.
The tone in the exhortations of the Connacht supporters offered a microcosm of the unfolding events on the pitch: encouraging, exasperated, pleading and finally exultant.
It was appropriate that Munster's controversial penalty try was reduced to a footnote in the context of the result, if not the game. John Muldoon's early contact on Andrew Conway inside the Connacht 22 merited a penalty and a debate about a yellow card, but certainly not a penalty try.
Referee Ben Whitehouse consulted with the TMO Simon McDowell who advised him to award a penalty try. It polarised opinion in the aftermath. Munster coach Anthony Foley argued: "From my point of view, I didn't see anyone capable of catching Andrew or in the vicinity to catch him.
"John Muldoon might have stayed off him and tried to catch him when he got the pass, but he committed too early. We don't know, but you try to weigh it up with the likelihood."
His Connacht counterpart Pat Lam offered a different perspective: "I obviously disagree with it. The penalty try, I think there was enough coverage around there."
Gave his tuppence
Muldoon gave his tuppence but it is important to note that the context is skewed by the result. “It was a yellow card, no doubt. Was it a double whammy, penalty try and yellow card? I’m not sure.” If Connacht had lost he might not have been as philosophical. The consensus was that the decision was harsh.
The incident shouldn’t deflect from what was an entertaining encounter, Connacht in the ascendancy for much of the first half, dominating possession and territory.
Their 22-year-old flanker James Connolly, making his first start in the Pro12, was outstanding in that period, ably backed up by 21-year-old hooker Shane Delahunt and the twinkle-toed elusiveness of Craig Ronaldson and Tiernan O'Halloran, all of whom managed to breach the Munster defence.
Kieran Marmion was a key player during this period, while Matt Healy chased brilliantly. O'Halloran scored a try from nothing; Ronaldson kicked the conversion and a penalty but Connacht should have ben further ahead against opponents who had racked up 22 missed tackles by half-time.
Munster demonstrated their fighting qualities in pinching a try through hooker Niall Scannell. It came from a well-constructed lineout maul.
Foley had stern words for his men at half-time. “We addressed a few things. I thought we played really well in the second half, but turnovers close to their line or in the 22 just killed us.
“There was one or two where we got turned over at the breakdown because we didn’t protect the ball. There was a lineout steal that we won that was taken off our player on the way down.
“The one at the very end was frustrating. We were doing the right things, but ultimately a little error cost us. It isn’t like there were 12 errors, there were three or four.”
High-calibre
Munster were miles better after the restart with James Cronin, Mark Chisholm and Jack O'Donoghue continuing in the same high-calibre vein that they had started the game.
Tomás O'Leary's intelligent game-management was apparent before he was replaced. Keith Earls made some decent breaks, so too Robin Copeland, who galloped into open spaces.
Ronaldson kicked a penalty to nudge the visitors out to 13-5 before the penalty try guaranteed a fraught end-game, alleviated for the visiting fans when man-of-the-match Aki – Aly Muldowney would have been an equally worthy recipient – forced his way over.
Muldoon offered an insight into what it meant for the Connacht players. “It’s nice to be part of history. A couple of us have tried a lot; I think I have had 13 goes at it and it’s finally nice to get one.
“We have got to be honest here and say that we are on top of the league because we were the team least affected [by World Cup]. It gives us confidence that we can come down to Thomond Park and believe we can win.
“When we did our stuff right we were very, very good. I thought we got a little bit ‘rabbit in the headlights’ at times and we probably went away from what we said we would do and our gameplan; at times we looked pretty average.
“I think that’s a good indication of how far we have come and the belief that was there. We have still got a lot to work on but it’s good to see us being put under pressure and being able to come out the other side.
"We are top of the league on November 28th; that doesn't get us anything. Last year we were in the first five or six until about March and ultimately we didn't get into the Champions Cup. We have to push on and try to be up there when it matters."
This victory will help.
Scoring sequence: 11 mins: Ronaldson penalty, 0-3; 17: O'Halloran try, Ronaldson con, 0-10; 20: N Scannell try, 5-10. Half-time: 5-10. 58: Ronaldson penalty, 5-13; 64: penalty try, Keatley con, 12-13; 77: Aki try, 12-18.
MUNSTER: A Conway; G van den Heever, K Earls, F Saili, L Gonzalez Amorosino; I Keatley, T O'Leary; J Cronin, N Scannell, BJ Botha; D Ryan, M Chisholm; CJ Stander, J O'Donoghue, R Copeland. Replacements: J Ryan for Botha (half-time), D Hurley for Van den Heever (50 mins), D Foley for Ryan (56 mins), D Kilcoyne for Cronin (61 mins), D Williams for O'Leary (64 mins).
CONNACHT: R Henshaw; T O'Halloran, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy; AJ MacGinty, K Marmion; D Buckley, S Delahunt, N White; U Dillane, A Muldowney; J Muldoon, J Connolly, E Masterson. Replacements: J Carty for MacGinty (45 mins), R Loughney for Buckley (54 mins), S O'Brien for Masterson (56 mins), F Bealham for White (58 mins), D Heffernan for Delahunt (61 mins), G Naoupu for Dillane (63 mins), D Leader for O'Halloran (68 mins). Yellow card: J Muldoon 65 mins.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales).
