Ospreys saw their season end thanks to a 23-7 defeat at the hands of Munster in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final stage.

First half tries from Niall Scannell and Simon Zebo, either side of Keelan Giles’ thrilling effort gave Munster a slim lead.

Either side of half time, Ospreys struggled to control the game as they failed to score before the break despite four lineouts and one scrum inside the home side’s 22.

After the break, they defended valiantly to prevent further tries, but were let down by their ill-discipline in the middle third of the pitch as the boot of Jack Crowley settled the match for Munster.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has created a side that plays with tenacity and desire in all phases and it showed, with the visitors failing to gave an inch right up until the final whistle.

The match started at some pace, Simon Zebo crossing from Munster’s first possession of the game. After several positive phases, the home side worked the ball to the right and Zebo showed all his experience to fix Keelan Giles and go past him for the opening score.

Giles would respond emphatically just three minutes later as Reuben Morgan-Williams’ chip bounced perfectly for Owen Watkin to gather and play a glorious flick out the back to Morgan Morris on the crash. The Ospreys number eight showed supreme clarity to pass to the quicker man in Giles, rather than take the ball ball into contact.

Once Giles got the ball it was a foot race that only one man was going to win. Owen Williams added the extras and the game was all tied up.

Throughout the contest, both sides showed their prowess at set pieces. Munster, who have a formidable second row of RG Snyman and Tadhg Beirne, used their lineout to great effect, leading to Niall Scannell score that retook the lead for the Irish region.

After the early scare that Ospreys gave them, Munster controlled things well, with a quality befitting the best side in the URC this season.

Ospreys’ discipline was found wanting, and Crowley banged over a penalty to extend the lead to 10.

Toby Booth’s side were getting ascendency at scrum time, though, and a penalty won by Nicky Smith’s good work gave the visitors a rare attacking platform.

Wales’ World Cup captains combined for a smart move off the lineout, around the short side but Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman were wise to it. Munster cleared but Ospreys came again, only for Watkin to drop the ball after being put under considerable pressure.

Ospreys came again with trademark tenacity. A five metre lineout was well claimed by Huw Sutton before Jac Morgan burrowed up to just two yards out. By now, Munster were giving away penalties like sweets and all Ospreys needed was to control their white-line fever.

With another penalty platform, Ospreys opted for the scrum. Munster, though, were a group possessed, winning the scrum penalty against the head and made it to halftime with their comfortable lead in tact.

The half time interval did nothing to help Ospreys stop the Munster lineout machine as another devastating maul brought the home side up to just three yards out. Phase upon phase of pure bloody minded effort from the visitors kept the waves of red away from the try line before Morris knocked on attempting the vital turnover.

A scrum and then a free kick followed and Ospreys were at in again, defending their line with laser-like focus. When Snyman knocked on, the hoards of black celebrated with relief on their faces. A scrum penalty followed and a well-earned breather could be taken.

The red arrows were not finished, though, and a few minutes later and unenforced side entry gifted Munster a way back into the 22. A scrum penalty turned the screw and Beirne pointed to the posts for Crowley to extend the lead to 13, and then 16 just two minutes later.

Ospreys tuned to an inexperienced bench – a mark of their injury issues this season that they were unable to call upon the likes of Adam Beard, Harri Deaves, George North, Jack Walsh, Dan Edwards, or Alex Cuthbert for this fixture – but they were unable to wrestle momentum from a Munster side with dead-eyed focus until the final whistle.

Ospreys fans can look back on this season with immense pride: by far the best performing Welsh region, often going toe to toe against teams with vaster squads and purses. Throw in a European quarter-final and many will rightly be singing Toby Booth and his men their due praises.

For Munster, they march on, seeking a second straight URC title, this time as favourites for the trophy.

Munster: 23 (17) Tries: Zebo, Scannell, Con: Crawley x2, Pen: Crawley x3.

Ospreys: 7 (7) Tries: Giles, Con: O Williams.

Munster Team: Zebo (Haley 53′); Nash, Frisch (Butler 69′), O’Brien, Daly; Crowley, Casey (C Murray 58′); Loughman (J Ryan 63′), Scannell (Barron 46′), Archer (Jager 46′); Snyman, Beirne (c); O’Mahony (O’Donoghue 46′), Hodnett (Kendellen 61′), Coombes.

Ospreys Team: Nagy (Houston 71′); L Morgan, Watkin, K Williams, Giles (Scully 78′); O Williams, Morgan-Williams (L Davies 71′); Smith (G Thomas 54′), Lake (Parry 63′), Botha (Henry 54′); Ratti, Sutton (Sekekete 71′); J Morgan, Tipuric (c), Morris (Morse 73′).