Anthony Foley hopes his Munster side have turned a corner after they ended a five-match losing run with a gritty win over Ulster at Kingspan Stadium.
"It's definitely a starting point," he told RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport. "We were in a bit of a fight, a bit of a quandary, after losing five games on the bounce. We needed to get some momentum.
"Our training and preparation during the week has been excellent for the last five weeks. Just at times when we were out on the pitch we weren't getting that bounce.
"Paddy [Jackson] was unlucky with one of the kicks and we were lucky under the posts when I think Frankie [Van der Merwe] knocked it on.
"We had a bit of luck there so hopefully it's turned a small bit now and we can kick on with that."
Foley's side trailed 7-3 at half-time after coming under intense pressure but held the hosts scoreless after the break and won the game thanks to a drop-goal and second penalty from outhalf Ian Keatley.
"The boys fought hard out there. It wasn't pretty at times but our 9 and 10 managed the game well," he said.
"After a shaky start to the second half, we played them in their own half and forced them to go from deep. We got a bit of change out of that.
"We've got to play the French champions next week. The fact isn't lost on us that it's our European Cup season"
"They put a lot of pressure on us in the first half. We didn't help ourselves; we got a couple of turnovers and kicked it straight back to them, Rory [Scannell] made a lovely break, next thing they have the ball back.
"The possession and territory we had, we didn't have sustained pressure on so it was very hard to score, but I think in the second half we put a fair camp in their half of the pitch and from there we managed to get the point."
Foley was unhappy that Munster gave Paddy Jackson, above, a late chance to win the game but took encouragement ahead of the province's crucial Champions Cup meeting with Stade Francais next week.
"To give away a penalty when we're in possession and give them another opportunity is something we'll look at during the week.
"We've got to play the French champions next week. The fact isn't lost on us that it's our European Cup season.
"There's a glimmer of hope there but we need to go there and get a result. If we can get a result and pack out Thomond Park the following week we have a chance."
