Munster took a giant stride towards securing a home draw in the Celtic League quarter-finals as they swept aside Neath at The Gnoll.

The Irish side ran in four tries to crown a dominant and clinical display.

Mossie Lawlor, Jim Williams, Frankie Sheahan and Ronan O'Gara supplied the touchdowns, while O'Gara kicked three penalties and three conversions.

For Neath, replacement hooker Steve Jones responded with a try and Lee Jarvis fired over four penalties. But the Welsh All Blacks finished well beaten.

They were given a lesson in taking chances by opponents who were lethal whenever opportunities arose.

The outstanding O'Gara underline his team's superiority as he flashed over for a sparkling try in the final quarter.

It was disappointing for Neath ahead of their Heineken Cup clash with Leicester on Friday evening.

Munster led 20-9 at the break even though Neath had spent much of the first half going forward.

The visitors scored a peach of a try from long range after home number eight Nathan Bonner-Evans lost the ball in contact. Play was moved swiftly down the left for Lawlor to leave the defence trailing.

Neath roused themselves with a series of forward charges but lacked imagination and composure when they reached the Munster 22.

But the Irish showed them how to do it as Rob Henderson gathered a loose kick from Sean Marsden to put Jim Williams over on the stroke of half-time.

A hat-trick of Jarvis penalties kept Neath in the hunt, but Sheahan crossed in the second half and then O'Gara drove another nail in Neath's coffin.

Munster now need to beat Caerphilly at home to clinch a home quarter-final draw.