Munster's hopes of reaching the play-offs in this season's Pro12 were given a hammer blow on Saturday night after a 16-13 loss to Leinster in the Aviva Stadium.
Anthony Foley's side had the chance to win the game and move up to fourth in the table but turned down the chance to take a penalty in the final moments that would have ensured a draw. Prop Dave Kilcoyne took a quick tap and knocked on less than five metres from the line as the clocked ticked past 80.
After the match, Foley was at a loss to how his side failed to leave with the win. "I thought we done enough to win the game. A real feeling of one left behind. In a crucial moment of the season, to be camped on their line in the last few minutes of the game to not come away win a win or at least a draw is disappointing."
Despite Kilcoyne's knock on, Foley didn't place any blame on the prop after the game. "You back the players in their actions. A player thought he could win the game. We would like to take it back, but you don't get those opportunities to take it back. It's unfortunate but you got to live with it."
Anthony Foley feels the loss is "one that got away" #LEINvMUN pic.twitter.com/xI8RMmu5JM
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) April 2, 2016
Fly half Johnny Holland scored all of Munster's 13 points. The fly-half was replaced on the hour mark by Ian Keatley. After the game Foley revealed with the game being so tight, he wanted to give Keatley enough time to lay down a mark in the game. "We have a very experienced international out-half on the bench that has led us for the vast majority of the season. With a game as tight as that you don't want to be putting on your 10 with five of ten minutes to go. You want to be making that change a small bit earlier Keats got us into a position to win us the game".
Despite the loss, Foley felt Keatley put them into that position. "We have a very experienced ten on the bench. It was important that we gave him an opportunity to get us into the game and get us into position to win it which he did. Unfortunately we didn't do it."
Munster return to Pro12 action in a fortnight away to Connacht. Anthony Foley's side must win the game if they hope to feature in the play-offs.
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