Gavin Coombes came off the bench to score two tries as Munster beat Dragons 22-20 to end a four-game losing streak and move up to third in the United Rugby Championship.
The province were desperate to bounce back from last weekend's Champions Cup exit at the hands of Castres in Thomond Park and left it late to see off a lively Dragons outfit, who led from the 11th minute until the 75th.
Brian Gleeson's try at the end of the first half gave Munster something to cling onto but they trailed 13-7 at the break in difficult conditions in Cork.
The visitors scored a try out of nothing to lead 20-7 in the 53rd minute but the arrival of Coombes changed the game, the number 8 scoring twice within ten minutes of coming on.
More late pressure resulted in a penalty and Tony Butler, a late call-up for the injured JJ Hanrahan, fired over the winning score.
Munster had to deal with out-half Hanrahan crying off five minutes before the start with a leg injury with Butler coming in and Jack O'Donoghue making the bench a 6:2 split.
Playing with the aid of a stiff wind, Dragons opened the scoring with a long-range Angus O'Brien kick after Munster gave away a penalty for a hand in a ruck.
More indiscipline let the visitors in again with hooker Brodie Coghlan taking advantage of a lineout close to the line to force his way over with O'Brien adding the extras.
Flanker Harry Beddall was sent to the bin for taking out Thaakir Abrahams (above) in the air from the restart but Munster could not take advantage of their numerical advantage with simple handling errors allowing Filo Tiatia's side to remain in charge.
They extended their lead further when Butler failed to roll away at a ruck with O'Brien landing the penalty.
Scrum-half Che Hope looked to have added a second try but the TMO called the play back for a penalty in midfield and Munster toiled but were able to make their pressure count when Gleeson barged his way over the line just before the break.
Munster had the better of the opening exchanges in the second half but lost concentration when Tinus de Beer was able to field his own clearance in the middle of the field before offloading to David Richards, who raced in to put the Welsh side 13 points clear.
Coombes replaced Jean Kleyn in the 55th minute and powered his way over from close range after Ethan Coughlan's kick put Munster into position, however, Butler's kick was off target.
Debutant Seán Edogbo (below), named player of the match, was using his power to good effect and alongside replacement O'Donoghue, was part of the forward effort that led to Coombes' second with 15 minutes to play, the back row sneaking over after the pack were repelled a number of times.
This time Butler added the conversion to leave Munster trailing by a single point.
Dragons loosehead prop Robert Hunt went offside as Munster pressured close to the line with Butler having the easiest kick of the night to put the hosts in front with five minutes to play.
There looked to be a bonus point there for the taking but Clayton McMillan's side couldn't take advantage of a promising position with Gleeson held up over the line.
Munster are away to Glasgow next Friday night.
SCORERS
Munster - Tries: Brian Gleeson, Gavin Coombes (2)
Cons: Tony Butler (2)
Pen: Tony Butler
Dragons - Tries: Brodie Coghlan, David Richards
Cons: Angus O'Brien (2)
Pens: Angus O'Brien (2)
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Michael Ala'alato; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson
Replacements: Lee Barron (Diarmuid Barron 76), Josh Wycherley (Loughman 50), Oli Jager (Ala'alatoa 50), Evan O'Connell (Fineen Wycherley 50), Gavin Coombes (Kleyn 55), Paddy Patterson (Coughlan 71), Jack O'Donoghue (Quinn 65), Diarmuid Kilgallen (Nankivell 43)
Dragons: Angus O'Brien (co-capt); David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Che Hope; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Robert Hunt; Levi Douglas, Ben Carter (co-capt); Harri Keddie, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Oli Burrows (Coghlan 67), Jordan Morris (Martinez 76), Cebo Dlamini (Hunt 76), Seb Davies (Douglas 53), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Keddie 61), Rhodri Williams (Hope 71), Harri Ackerman (Beddall), Cai Evans (De Beer 61).
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
