Tom James, Gary Powell and Ceri Sweeney all crossed as the Blues came from behind to snatch a late victory and move up to fifth in the league.
But joy was tempered by injuries to British Lions pair Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts. Halfpenny withdrew from the game before kick-off after pulling up with a thigh strain during the warm up. And Roberts hobbled off on 48 minutes with a shoulder injury following a series of heavy blows.
The injured tempered Cardiff joy at winning a game many thought would be the Heineken Cup final, though instead merely secured their place in Europe next season. Cardiff dominated the first half but after Nick Robinson missed with his first two attempts, it was not until Munster were reduced to 14 men that the breakthrough came.
Nick Williams was penalised for an off the ball challenge on Roberts with a yellow card, and Cardiff made the extra man count when Chris Czekaj’s pass saw James score on 22 minutes. Robinson’s conversion rebounded off the post.
The Blues bossed the scrums but Munster caught them with a classic counter-attack that was started and finished by Denis Leamy five minutes before half time. Robinson found his range for an 8-5 lead but Munster turned the tide in the second half.
Leamy and Barry Murphy had efforts ruled out by the fourth official as the champions began to show their strength. A second try was inevitable when Kieran Lewis went over on 67 minutes. However the Blues rallied through their dominance at the scrums and that set up their second score to regain the lead eight minutes from time.
James went close, Jamie Robinson and Sweeney made half-breaks before Rhys Thomas sent Powell storming over with a neat inside pass. Robinson missed the conversion and a late penalty either side of having a try ruled out, but Sweeney wrapped up the victory with an injury-time interception score from the half-way line.
