Munster did the impossible once again as an 82nd minute try from David Wallace clinched the bonus point that enabled them to overtake Sale Sharks at the top of Pool 1.

This was Munster’s 24th successive victory at Thomond Park, and by reversing their defeat at Sale in the opening round they became only the second team in Heineken Cup history to register 50 victories.

The game got off to a lively start and French referee Joel Jutge issued the first of three yellow cards for fighting to Sales Argentinean lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe after only four minutes.

Ronan O’Gara opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty which his outside half rival Charlie Hodgeson matched five minutes later.

But just before Lobbe returned Munster struck the first telling blow when they drove inspirational skipper Anthony Foley over for his 22nd try in what was also his 50th European victory.

O’Gara added the conversion and did the same on the half hour when Ian Dowling dived in at the left corner.

Now Munster really were on a roll and two minutes after Sale’s England lock Chris Jones and Munster’s Irish international prop Marcus Horan has fought their way into the sin-bin, Heineken man of the match Barry Murphey ran 50 meters to score the try of the game.

O’Gara converted to stretch the lead to 18 points, and the only consolation for Sale was a third Hodgeson penalty on the stroke of half time.

Munster were unable to maintain their momentum in the second half as they went in search of the fourth try they needed to clinch the bonus point and steal top place in the pool.

But all things come to he who waits and the 13,000 Munster faithful, fingernails chewed down to their knuckles, were able to celebrate in style when Wallace rounded off a flowing move in the 82nd minutes to notch the try they all wanted.

O’Gara added the conversion and Munster were on their way to the quarter-finals as Pool winners