Brian Smith’s men put up a spirited fight on the night but lost in front of a sell-out 5,000 crowd.

Irish fielded a much changed side from the team that narrowly defeated Bristol at Hazelwood with David Paice and Halani Aulika the only survivors.

The visitors refused to give an inch during the first half and Munster’s Donnacha O’Callaghan and Jebb Sinclair were sent to the sin bin just before the break for an altercation off the ball.

Munster took advantage of the extra space when Johnny Holland sent Ronan O’Mahoney over the line before kicking the conversion to put the hosts 7-0 ahead.

But Irish responded with a try of their own on the stroke of half-time when Tom Fowlie’s brilliant pass allowed Alex Lewington to cross in the corner.

Myles Dorrian missed the conversion to leave Exiles trailing 7–5 at the break.

Munster, though, stepped it up in the second period and put Irish under sustained pressure.

They extended their lead when replacement scrum half Duncan Williams dabbed down with Holland’s conversion putting the home side 14-5 up.

Irish’s hopes of a comeback were dashed in the closing quarter when Andrew Fenby was penalised for holding onto the ball and Holland accepted the three points to seal a Munster victory.

The Exiles launch their Aviva Premiership season against Harlequins at Twickenham as part of the London double-header this Saturday.

London Irish: Parr, Paice, Aulika, Sinclair, Rouse, Low, Gilsenan, Narraway, O’Leary, Dorrian, Harries (trialist), Armitage, Fowlie, Lewington; 15. Fenby. Reps: Ellis, Court, Halavatau, Cowan, Treviranus, Mayhew, Allinson, Geraghty, Short, Sheridan, Ojo, Homer, Noakes.

Referee: David Wilkinson.

Attendance: 5,000.