The reigning league champions were 18-13 winners at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Blues missed the chance to return to the top of the table.
Blues wing Alex Cuthbert scored the game’s only try but it wasn’t enough to see his side bounce back from the Round 3 reverse to Ulster at Ravenhill.
An immaculate kicking performance from Munster fly-half Ian Keatley ensured Munster extended their advantage at the head of the standings, with the former Connacht playmaker slotting six penalties.
Keatley’s boot gave the visitors a 12-3 at the break despite the Blues dominating territory and possession. Ceri Sweeney kicked a first-half penalty for the Blues but he missed two others in an opening 40 minutes that also saw the television match official rule out a Sam Hobbs try after the young prop was adjudged to have grounded the ball just short of the line.
The Blues enjoyed the perfect start to the second period, however, as Cuthbert went over with just 44 minutes on the clock. Sweeney converted and suddenly there was just two points between the teams.
But two more penalties from Keatley stretched Munster’s lead and, although a 70th-minute strike from Sweeney gave the Blues hope, they were unable to halt Munster’s 14-match unbeaten run in the Magners League and Rabo Direct Pro 12.
It could have been a completely different story, though, had the TMO not ruled out a last-gasp try from man of the match Cuthbert. A touchdown at the death would have given Sweeney the chance to win it for the Blues with an injury-time conversion but the scoring pass from Dan Fish was adjudged to have been forward.
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Next up for the Blues is a home game against Glasgow Warriors a week tomorrow before away trips to Aironi and Connacht complete October’s league schedule.
