Head coach Clayton McMillan admitted that relief was his primary emotion after Munster scraped past Dragons to end a four-game losing streak.
The 22-20 victory, secured by tries from Brian Gleeson and Gavin Coombes (2), and seven points from the boot of Tony Butler, sees Munster up to third in the BKT URC table ahead of Saturday's games.
Beaten by Castres last weekend in the Champions Cup, Munster badly needed a boost but trailed for all but 16 minutes of last night's game in Cork as the Dragons threatened to record a first-ever win in 14 matches at the venue.
Coombes' introduction in the 55th minute paved the way for the Munster fightback with the number 8 scoring twice within 10 minutes of his arrival.
McMillan, whose side had come in for criticism following their European exit on the back to defeats to Bath, Toulon and Castres in their pool, was pleased with how his side eeked out the result, especially after out-half JJ Hanrahan cried off in the warm-up with a leg injury.
"Just relief actually, first and foremost to get the win, it was a hard-fought game, but really proud of the effort and the character in the side," the New Zealander (above) told Premier Sport.
"[We] didn't get off to a great start, even pre-game with JJ Hanrahan pulling up five minutes before the start, so Tony Butler had to jump in there at pretty short notice.
"We didn't have any back-up cover there, so those little things can have a big impact on a young side.
"I'm really proud that they navigated their way through that."
Munster found themselves 13-7 down at half-time and behind 20-7 with 23 minutes on the clock.
Gleeson's try before the break came off the back of a disallowed try for the Welsh side.
Butler's winning penalty came with just five minutes to play.
McMillan, whose side face the in-form Glasgow Warriors away next weekend, added: "I think we gifted some pretty soft tries, mostly from kicks that we just didn't get anyone near, they were good enough to capitalise, but we got it done.
"It's not pretty but four points in the bank and we go again next week."
Munster, third ahead of Saturday's kick-offs, were without their Ireland internationals, who had exceeded their allotted IRFU game time, and handed a debut to 21-year-old back row Seán Edogbo, who was named player of the match.
"Yeah, it was definitely a squad effort, I was impressed with the young guys, especially in their carry, clean, lineout work, I thought it was outstanding," said McMillan.
"They'll certainly learnt a lot from being out in the middle in those sorts of conditions,
"I think at the back end of the game we managed it pretty well, not good enough to get across for a four-try bonus, but we had all of the territory, our setpiece was sound, we didn't give a penalty away at all in the second half.
"Those sorts of things have been our Achilles heel, that have gifted the opposition opportunity to get back into our half, and positions to score points, so those things were really pleasing."
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