# 1998–99 Munster Rugby season

The 1998–99 Munster Rugby season was Munster's fourth season as a professional team, during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and Heineken Cup. It was Declan Kidney's first season in his first spell as head coach of the province.

## 1998–99 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Mark McDermott | Hooker | Ireland |
| Frankie Sheahan | Hooker | Ireland |
| Des Clohessy | Prop | Ireland |
| Peter Clohessy | Prop | Ireland |
| John Hayes | Prop | Ireland |
| Ian Murray | Prop | Ireland |
| Mick Galwey (c) | Lock | Ireland |
| Shane Leahy | Lock | Ireland |
| Donncha O'Callaghan | Lock | Ireland |
| Mick O'Driscoll | Lock | Ireland |
| David Corkery | Back row | Ireland |
| Anthony Foley | Back row | Ireland |
| Eddie Halvey | Back row | Ireland |
| Jerry Murray | Back row | Ireland |
| Alan Quinlan | Back row | Ireland |
| David Wallace | Back row | Ireland |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Peter Stringer | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Tom Tierney | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Barry Everitt | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Ronan O'Gara | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Killian Keane | Centre | Ireland |
| Cian Mahony | Centre | Ireland |
| Conor Mahony | Centre | Ireland |
| Mike Lynch | Centre | Ireland |
| Mike Mullins | Centre | Ireland |
| Rhys Ellison | Wing | New Zealand |
| Anthony Horgan | Wing | Ireland |
| John Kelly | Wing | Ireland |
| John O'Neill | Wing | Ireland |
| Brian Roche | Wing | Ireland |
| Dominic Crotty | Fullback | Ireland |

## Friendlies

* 18 August 1998
| Munster | 49–17 | Morocco |
| | Report | |
* Thomond Park

## 1998–99 IRFU Interprovincial Championship

| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | BP | Pts | Status |
| Munster | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 125 | 92 | 2 | 18 | Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Ulster | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 119 | 3 | 15 | Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Leinster | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 135 | 136 | 2 | 14 | Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Connacht | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 95 | 145 | 3 | 11 | |
* 15 August 1998
| Connacht | 13–18 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds
* 21 August 1998
| Munster | 18–24 | Leinster |
| | Report | |
* Dooradoyle
* 4 September 1998
| Ulster | 29–12 | Munster |
| Try: J. Cunningham, Rea Con: Mason (2) Pen: Mason (5) | Report | Pen: Keane (4) |
* Ravenhill
* 12 September 1998
| Munster | 21–7 | Connacht |
| | Report | |
* Dooradoyle
* 3 October 1998
| Munster | 31–9 | Ulster |
| Try: Lacey, Horgan, Foley, Galwey Con: Lynch Pen: Lynch (3) | Report | Pen: Mason (2) Drop: Humphreys |
* Musgrave Park
* 23 October 1998
| Leinster | 10–25 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Donnybrook

## 1998–99 Heineken Cup
### Pool 2

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Perpignan | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 13 | 22 | 238 | 108 | 130 | 10 |
| Munster | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 144 | 108 | 36 | 9 |
| Neath | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 27 | −13 | 118 | 194 | −76 | 3 |
| Safilo Petraca Rugby Padova | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 21 | −13 | 79 | 169 | −90 | 2 |
* 19 September 1998 14:30
| Munster | 20–13 | Petrarca |
| | Report | |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 2,000 Referee: David Davies
* 26 September 1998 15:00
| Munster | 34–10 | Neath |
| | Report | |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Joël Jutge
* 10 October 1998 15:15
| Perpignan | 41–24 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Stade Gilbert Brutus Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Robert Davies
* 17 October 1998 14:30
| Neath | 18–18 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Chuck Muir
* 31 October 1998 14:30
| Munster | 13–5 | Perpignan |
| | Report | |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Steve Lander
* 8 November 1998 16:00
| Petrarca | 21–35 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Stadio Plebiscito Attendance: 500 Referee: Didier Mene

### Quarter-final

* 13 December 1998 15:00
| Colomiers | 23–9 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Stade Selery Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse