Two remarkable, contrasting tries from Conor Murray and Andrew Conway ensured Munster edged to a 20-19 victory against Toulon and into the Champions Cup semifinals.

In front of a packed Thomond Park, Munster went in front in the first half as Murray was rewarded for some quick thinking at a ruck with the game's first try.

Toulon mounted a comeback in the second half and led after Christ Ashton cantered under the posts with 15 minutes remaining.

However, Conway made Francois Trinh-Duc pay for not quite making touch with a late clearance kick as he scythed through the visiting defence to send the hosts into the last four.

Munster's prize for reaching their second successive Champions Cup semifinal is an encounter with either Clermont or Racing 92 in France next month.

For much of the opening half, though, it looked as though it would be Toulon who would be marching into the next round.

The French side had been forced into some late adjustments, with Anthony Belleau called into the starting XV as fly-half Trinh-Duc dropped to the bench.

Belleau settled into the match well, though, and was at the heart of an impressive opening from the three-times European champions, who kept Munster pinned inside their own 22 for much of the first 10 minutes.

Less than 60 seconds was on the clock when Ashton thought his side should have been awarded a penalty try as Simon Zebo patted the ball dead just in front of him.

Television replays appeared to show that the departing Ireland fullback got to the ball first, but after reviewing the footage referee Nigel Owens decided it was Ashton who had knocked on.

Toulon spent much of the next 20 minutes camped in the Munster half, but ultimately ended the first quarter with only six points -- from a Belleau penalty and drop goal -- to show for their efforts.

Zebo had been hurt in the opening clash with Ashton, and his final European appearance at Thomond Park would end prematurely as he limped off after less than 25 minutes.

But he had reason to cheer less than three minutes later as Murray took advantage of a knock on from Guilhem Guirado at a ruck on the Toulon line to dot down the game's opening try.

Owens was again required to go upstairs and after checking several separate incidents deemed that Guirado's intervention meant that the ruck was over and Murray was free to take the ball and score.

The try gave the hosts a visible lift and they would turn around four points in front as Ian Keatley added a penalty to his conversion.

Keatley and Trinh-Duc then exchanged penalties in the opening 21 minutes of a committed yet cagey second half, before the momentum seemed to swing towards the visitors.

Trinh-Duc's offload to Mathieu Bastareaud was ruled by the TMO to be level, and a lovely line from Ashton was rewarded as the France centre played him in to score.

Munster looked to have a mountain to climb, but there was still time for them to rally. Conway's opportunity arose as he stretched high to claim a Trinh-Duc clearance before it went into touch.

The Toulon chase was ragged and the Munster wing took full advantage, dancing through to score the game's decisive try. It left the hosts a point behind, but Keatley made no mistake with a simple conversion.