Connacht put a tough three weeks on the road behind them as they finished with a flourish to edge a tense derby with Munster and pick up their first win of the season.
Tries from Ireland internationals Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham and a late effort from Paul Boyle ensured a winning return to Galway for Andy Friend's side in front of a raucous 7,512 crowd.
Munster led 8-5 at the end of a cagey, intermittent first half that was constantly interrupted by scrum resets and water breaks, Patrick Campbell producing a spectacular finish to score their only try on 24 minutes, and they extended their lead to six points after the restart through the boot of Ben Healy.
The cageyness continued in the second period, both teams cheaply giving away possession and their back threes struggling under the high ball, while returning Connacht captain Jack Carty left seven points behind him with three errant kicks at goal.
When Connacht were awarded another penalty inside range, Carty handed duties over to Conor Fitzgerald and the full-back made no mistake to give Connacht a lead they would not relinquish, with replacement Boyle bagging a third try at the death.
After their struggles in Belfast and South Africa, Connacht were seeking some home comforts on their new all-weather pitch and they got off to a dream start when Hansen crossed for the opening try inside nine minutes.
Two scrum penalties propelled the hosts into the Munster 22 and a big carry from the excellent David Hawkshaw got them to within metres of the line.
Playing advantage after Munster were caught offside, Carty floated an inch-perfect pass out wide which caught out Joey Carbery and put his Ireland team-mate Hansen in for his first try of the season.
Carty's conversion hit the left post, as did a penalty attempt on 17 minutes, and Connacht were left to rue those misses as Munster fought their way back into the contest and scored from their first visit to the home 22.
Munster mauled their way towards the Connacht line and after a series of pick and drives, Healy took a leaf out of Carty’s book and found Campbell with a looping pass. The 20-year-old produced a spectacular finish in the corner, with Healy unable to add the extras.
Healy endured a difficult opening half, failing to find touch from two penalties with Connacht’s rush defence giving him little time on the ball.
A lovely inside pass from Byron Ralston sent John Porch on a weaving run down the wing and although his pass bounced kindly for Hansen, Tadhg Beirne got back to make a crucial turnover.
Beirne repeated the trick late on after the Connacht forwards had rumbled their way into the 22 and it was Munster who went in ahead at the break after Carty’s high challenge on Healy was punished by the out-half.
Having conceded three scrum penalties in the first half, Munster replaced Dave Kilcoyne with Jeremy Loughman at the break, and Healy extended their lead early in the second half after two Connacht defenders were caught on the wrong side of a ruck as they defended their line.
But the home side responded with second try. Fitzgerald found touch with a brilliant 50-22 and Connacht mauled their way over after a great take by Oisín Dowling at the lineout, the TMO ruling Bealham had managed to ground the ball.
Carty badly skewed his conversion to leave Connacht still trailing but they did retake the lead on the hour mark after Joey Carbery failed to collect Carty’s up-and-under and Beirne flew off his feet at a ruck.
Fitzgerald took over kicking duties and he calmly converted from 35 metres to make it 13-11.
A Munster response never arrived. Instead it was Connacht who pressed for another score with Carty’s intelligent kicking from hand keeping Munster pinned inside their own half.
When Munster finally got some much-needed possession in the Connacht half, they promptly wasted it by getting pinged for obstruction when setting up a lineout drive.
Instead it was Connacht who had the final say, replacement Boyle barging over from close range to put the seal on a morale-boosting win.
It wasn't pitch-perfect but Connacht are up and running.
Connacht: Conor Fitzgerald; John Porch, Byron Ralston, David Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (capt), Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Gavin Thornbury, Oisín Dowling; Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Grant Stewart, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Colm Reilly, Tom Daly, Paul Boyle.
Munster: Joey Carbery; Conor Phillips, Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell; Ben Healy, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O'Sullivan, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Fionn Gibbons.
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU).
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