They trailed 13-3 at half time and then 16-3 shortly after the restart when Morgan Para landed his fourth successful kick but then not alone held the French side scoreless for the rest of the game but scored a 59th minute try through Denis Hurley that was superbly converted by Ronan O'Gara to leave just a score separating the sides.

And they almost scored a second try when Felix Jones was first to a clever kick into the Clermont 22, that Casey Laulala just knocked forward as he attempted to gather for a score.

They also had a close in lineout opportunity in the closing minutes but maybe the best chance of a winning try came as they won a turnover to fashion a break out from their 22. But with a huge numerical advantage, Paul O'Connell's pass was adjudged to be forward by referee Nigel Owens. Very few in the stadium or watching on television agreed with the Welsh official.

Afterwards O'Gara expressed his disappointment with the outcome but accepted that the better side won while O'Connell said that they'd given Clermont too much of a head start.

O'Gara kicked Munster into the lead with a penalty in the 6th minute but that lasted all of two minutes before Napolioni Nalaga sliced through the Munster midfield to score under the posts. Clermont had other opportunities but failed to convert and it was left to Parra to keep the scoreboard ticking over for them.

Just before the break Munster laid siege to the Clermont line under the posts but came away with nothing, the home side more than a little fortunate not be penalised for side entry.

The second half was dominated for large parts by Munster whose back row of Peter O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell and James Coughlan were outstanding and O'Gara set the Munster pulses racing when his delightfully threaded through ball was seized on by Hurley, O'Gara's nerveless conversion leaving just six points separating the sides.

He engineered two close in line-outs with excellent touch finds but Clermont resisted one drive while the second was spoiled by an overthrow.

Munster's last chance went with that controversial forward pass and the game ended with another penalty against Munster that was booted gleefully into the stands.

Clermont: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, R King (S Nakaitaci 63), W Fofana, N Nalaga; B James, M Parra; T Domingo (V Debaty 61), B Kayser (T Paulo 68), D Zirakashvili (R King 78); J Cudmore (J Pierre 38), N Hines; J Bonnaire, J Bardy (A Lapandry 56), D Chouly.

Munster: F Jones; K Earls (D Hurley 50), C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry (D Varley 56), BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Referee: N Owens (Wales)