James Arlidge kicked three penalties but that was not enough to beat the Irish giants who out-scored their hosts two tries to nil in a 20-9 win at Rodney Parade.
Ciaran O’Boyle and Anthony Horgan scored in either half as Munster overcame two yellow cards to edge a hard-fought contest at Rodney Parade.
The Dragons were looking for their first hat-trick of wins in the Magnres League for almost four seasons but were 13-3 down after just 24 minutes.
Despite the conditions, Paul Warwick had no trouble converting the game’s first points with a fifth-minute penalty though that early advantage was wiped out when James Arlidge equalised on 11 minutes.
However Munster’s immediate reaction was as emphatic as it was swift and within seconds of the re-start, following Arlidge’s penalty, wing O’Boyle sauntered over the line for the game’s opening try.
Munster’s forwards recovered the kick-off, Peter Stringer spread the attack to Warwick and Lifeimi Mafi before full-back Denis Hurley injected a burst of pace and delivered the scoring pass for O’Boyle.
Alridge scored a second penalty but Munster will have been frustrated not to have extended the lead before half time when Dragons flanker Richard Parks was yellow carded and Warwick was twice off target.
Having failed to capitalise, Munster handed the initiative to the Dragons when Darragh Hurley and then Alan Quinlan were sin binned.
Arlidge reduced the lead to 13-9 on the hour but, after the outside-half was charged down by Niall Ronan, Horgan settled the tie just three minutes later.
O’Driscoll was twice involved as Munster looked to hammer a hole before Warwick sent Horgan diving over in the corner for the decisive score.
