GLASGOW’S hopes of reaching the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time now depend on beating Leicester on Saturday and relying on other results to go their way after this agonising defeat by Munster last night.

From first to last in an at-times ill-tempered clash, the Warriors were able to force their way deep into enemy territory. From first to last, they were unable to turn that possession into a single try, as Munster put in a typically asphyxiating performance in defence.

When the Irishmen needed to score most, conversely, they did so, claiming the only try of the game late in the second half less than a minute after Stuart Hogg had been yellow-carded for a high tackle close to his own line. The try was not converted, but it was still enough to nudge Munster in front for the first time in the match - and their defence was more than good enough to keep them there.

Tyler Bleyendaal added his team’s other points with three penalties, while for Glasgow Finn Russell had three penalties while the fourth came from Hogg. Russell could have added a drop-goal two minutes from time that would have given his team the win, but he opted not to attempt it - a decision that was perhaps symptomatic of a performance that was inspired at times but flawed at others.

It was a tough, tense contest, engrossing rather than hugely entertaining, and Glasgow played by far the more enterprising rugby. Munster’s main attacking ploy was the high ball, which targeted Warriors winger Lee Jones in particular, but the most important difference between the teams was the composure shown by the visitors when it mattered most.

The Warriors began as they had done at home to Racing 92, taking the game to the opposition with a high-tempo approach. Russell was just foiled after a clever chip ahead threatened to produce the first try of the evening, but after a dozen minutes the stand-off opened his team’s account with a penalty.

Munster had barely got out of their own half by that time, and three minutes later Bleyendaal was just short of goal with a penalty from right on halfway. Right at the end of the first quarter, however, the stand-off was given another chance from a lot closer after Jones was pulled up for a high tackle, and this time he was on target to take his team level.

Having done little but soak up pressure for the first 20, Munster came back into the game after that, and a relentless drive took them to within metres of scoring the first try until Dave Kilcoyne was penalised for not releasing. On the next attack, the Irishmen again offended at the breakdown, and from almost the same spot as Bleyendaal’s miss, Hogg thumped over a penalty that restored his team’s lead.

It did not last long. Five minutes before half-time Josh Strauss strayed offside, and was marched back 10 metres after talking to the referee, allowing Bleyendaal a straightforward score. Hogg had another long-distance attempt with two minutes left in the half, but this time his kick was just wide.

The Warriors began the second half with the same verve they had shown in the early stages of the first, and after several Munster infringements a second Russell penalty seven minutes in put them 9-6 ahead. Again, however, the visitors were able to hit back quickly, and Bleyendaal’s third successful penalty restored parity.

With exactly an hour played, Munster were offside at a maul on the edge of their 22, allowing Russell to dink over another three-pointer. Inside the closing 10 minutes, Munster put together the longest assault of the match, and looked sure to score when they eventually manufactured a big overlap on the right. Winger Andrew Conway had the line within reach when he was first tackled by Hogg then held up by Jones and Grigg, but referee Luke Pearce yellow-carded the home full-back. Munster kicked the penalty to the right-hand corner, and 30 seconds later they had crossed the line on the left, with Francis Saili supplying the coup de grace.

Losing a man and a score like that in such quick succession would have knocked the stuffing out of a lot of sides, but Glasgow fought back fiercely and right to the death threatened to snatch the score that would have produced the win. Russell was well positioned to attempt a last-gasp drop goal deep inside the Munster half, but did not make the call.

Munster, by contrast, remained composed when it mattered most, and held on for the result that means they have won the pool. They will now surely secure a home quarter-final by beating Racing next weekend: Glasgow, by contrast, will simply be thankful to have a last-eight tie anywhere.

Scorers:

Glasgow: Pens: Russell 3, Hogg.

Munster: Try: Saili. Pens: Bleyendaal 3.

Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg; T Seymour, M Bennett (N Grigg 63), A Dunbar, L Jones; F Russell, A Price; G Reid (A Allan 78), F Brown (P MacArthur 63), Z Fagerson (D Rae 78), T Swinson, J Gray, R Harley, R Wilson, J Strauss (C Fusaro 68). Unused substitutes: M Fagerson, G Hart, P Murchie.

Munster: S Zebo (I Keatley 73); A Conway, J Taute (F Saili 57), R Scannell, K Earls; T Bleyendaal, C Murray; D Kilcoyne (J Cronin 49), N Scannell (R Marshall 67), J Ryan (T du Toit 61), J Kleyn (W Holland 55), D Ryan, P O'Mahony (D Foley 73), J O'Donoghue, C Stander. Unused substitute: D Williams.

Referee: L Pearce (England). Attendance: 7351.