Pro14: Bonus-point 37-28 win sends Munster top of Conference A table

Munster kept their Pro14 home semi-final hopes alive with a bonus-point win over Benetton at Stadio Monigo.

JJ Hanrahan kicked 17 points in his 100th Munster appearance as the Irish side came from 11 points behind to win.

Rhys Marshall, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly and Alby Mathewson all crossed to put Munster top of Conference A before Glasgow visit Leinster on Saturday.

Benetton remain third in the Conference B table and can secure a play-off place with a win against Zebre on 27 April.

Benetton's Tommaso Benvenuti and Monty Ioane both scored in the first half and the Italian side appeared to be on course for a play-off place when they moved 28-17 ahead early in the second half with a penalty try, but Munster came roaring back with two final-quarter scores to clinch a battling victory.

The Irish province will hope that Glasgow fail to win against Leinster at the RDS before they host provincial rivals Connacht on the final day of the regular season, with the team that finishes top of their conference earning a bye into the last four and a home semi-final draw.

Following their last-minute draw against Leinster last weekend, Benetton went into the game having lost just once in 10 Pro14 matches and the Italian side showed once again why they are such a formidable force under head coach Kieran Crowley this season.

The pace and energy of wingers Ioane and Ratuva Tavuyara was a constant source of momentum for the home side as they powered into a ten-point lead inside the opening eight minutes against a second-string Munster.

Allan dispatched an early penalty before a searing Tavuyara break to set up Benvenuti for a clinical opening try.

Munster responded with a two-try salvo in as many minutes as Marshall rumbled over and Goggin strolled over untouched after a chip-and-chase by Darren Sweetnam created a mix up in the Benetton defence.

Allan was able to kick his side back into the lead with two penalties in quick succession and Benetton looked to have taken a decisive lead when they scored tries either side of the half-time break.

Number eight Toa Halafihi rode a thunderous tackle and full-back Jayden Hayward sliced through the Munster cover for Ioane to finish-off a wonderful attack in the left corner in the 38th minute.

The home side maintained their momentum after the break and were rewarded with a penalty try when Sweetnam was sent to the sin bin for deliberately knocking the ball on to spoil a two-man Benetton overlap.

Hanrahan kicked a pair of straight-forward penalties to settle his side and the fly-half's experience proved crucial in the final quarter.

The playmaker was able to dictate the tempo as Benetton's challenge wilted and a powerful break by Dan Goggin allowed Daly to skate over for a superb score and Hanrahan converted from the touchline to nudge his side into the lead.

The fly-half also played a crucial role in the final try as he cut into Benetton territory with a jinking break before finding Mathewson for a score under the posts.

Benetton rallied in the closing minutes as they pushed for fourth try and a losing bonus point but Munster held firm to take a major step towards a home semi-final.

Benetton: Hayward; Tavuyara, Benvenuti, Zanon, Ioane; Allan (capt), Duvenage; Quaglio, Bigi, Riccioni, Herbst, Ruzza, Negri, Steyn, Halafihi.

Replacements: Faiva, Traore, Ferrari, Lazzaroni, Pettinelli, Tebaldi, Rizzi, Iannone.

Sin bin: Benvenuti 52

Munster: Haley; Sweetnam, Arnold, Goggin, Daly; Hanrahan, Mathewson; Loughman, Marshall, Archer, Wycherley, Holland (capt), O'Donoghue, Cloete, Coombes.

Replacements: O'Byrne, O'Connor, Parker, O'Shea, O'Callaghan, Cronin, Johnston, McHenry.

Sin bin: Sweetnam 44

Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales)