Pat Ryan says he was happy to see his players produce a win when it was needed most.
The province registered 40 points without reply in a dominant second-half showing.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter had sympathy for Harlequins after the Chiefs stormed to a 58-26 victory at Sandy Park.
Leinster climb back up to second spot in the United Rugby Championship [URC] with a commanding victory over Ospreys in Dublin.
Tyrone beat Roscommon in a frantic contest at Kingspan Breffni while Kerry overcame Meath in Thurles.
Cork needed a win to avoid another early exit from the championship, and delivered with a brilliant display against the defending champions.
Graham Rowntree’s side are in flying form but Connacht face an uphill battle to make the top eight.
Shamrock Rovers’ struggles also continue with a 2-1 defeat to Cork City.
It was a big dent to Quins' top-four ambitions, but a last-minute try by Louis Lynagh earned them a four-try bonus point that could yet prove crucial come 5pm next Saturday afternoon.
Catalans bounced back from two consecutive defeats as they beat Leeds Rhinos to move level on points with Super League leaders Wigan Warriors.
Cardiff slumped to an eighth successive United Rugby Championship defeat after being dispatched 34-13 by the Lions in Johannesburg.
Goals from Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson made it three successive wins for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
The bonus-point victory qualified them for the end-of-season play-offs and left them in the driving seat to clinch a home semi-final on June 1.
Munster are within reach of a home quarter-final in the BKT United Rugby Championship following a runaway 47-12 derby win over Connacht at Thomond Park.
Exeter keep their Premiership play-off hopes alive with an impressive 58-26 win over fellow top four hopefuls Harlequins.
Wales hooker Evan Lloyd will make his first Cardiff start against Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, one of five changes for the game in the United Rugby Championship.
Graham Rowntree’s side had seven different try-scorers in a dominant win.
Visitors stayed in contention until the 40th minute when the hosts hit the afterburners and cruised to victory.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson admitted to having some sympathy for Gloucester after the league leaders’ record-breaking 90-0 victory secured a home semi-final in the Gallagher Premiership.
Come the finish, it was the Londoners who were cheering from the rooftops following their emphatic 41-20 success which qualified them for the semi-finals with one match to spare, next Saturday’s home game versus Sale.
Marty Kavanagh slotted a late free to ensure a share of the spoils.
Ulster ran in four second-half tries to give their BKT United Rugby Championship play-off hopes a major boost with a 31-20 bonus-point victory at Scarlets.
Benetton took advantage of Murray Koster’s red card to snatch a 25-24 victory over the Sharks which keeps alive their hopes of a United Rugby Championship play-off place.
The 42 understands that a Dublin businessman is set to take a minority share of the League of Ireland club for a seven-figure sum.
Liam Marshall's hat-trick and a stunning Bevan French performance helps Wigan to the top of Super League as they beat Huddersfield.
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