WHAT a difference a week makes as a Munster trip to France that delivered ecstasy was followed by one shrouded in misery that ended Peter O’Mahony’s European career. Seven days earlier, Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle had been dramatically edged by the Reds but, at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux had all but wrapped this quarter-final up by half-time when they led 29-10. Munster interim head coach Ian Costello admitted: “First 50, very disappointed with two key areas. “We struggled with lineout and turned over a lot of ball. "Of all teams in European rugby, you turn over the ball against them, you get punished.” And they were. Damien Penaud kicked it all off by breaking the record for the number of tries in a Champions Cup campaign with his 12th. Three more first-half tries followed for the hosts who got six in all. Veteran back row O’Mahony, 35, who retires from all rugby at the end of the season, was replaced by Tom Ahern on 49 minutes. And two Andrew Smith touchdowns and a penalty try in the second half were not enough to prolong his last bid for glory in Europe’s top competition. Two-time champions Munster made the worst possible start as only five minutes were on the clock when Penaud went over for Bordeaux — who are looking to be crowned kings of Europe for the first time. The try saw France Six Nations star Penaud surpass Chris Ashton’s tally of 11 in 2017, though Matthieu Jalibert could not convert. Jack Crowley, who delighted Munster fans by signing a two-year contract extension this week, kicked a penalty to get the province on the board. But Jailbert responded in kind and made up for his earlier conversion miss by nailing two as, with Penaud heavily involved, Maxime Lucu and Pete Samu both got over the line by the 24th minute to leave Munster in big trouble, trailing 22-3. Jon Echegaray added a fourth for the hosts with Jalibert again adding two points before Munster finished the half well. They got their first try just before the break through Alex Nankivell from close range and Crowley added the extras. After the restart, Jalibert missed a penalty and Costello’s men reduced the arrears when Smith crossed, but Crowley was unable to hit the target with the conversion this time. Jalibert kicked two penalties either side of a Maxime Lamothe try before Munster were awarded a penalty try for a deliberate knock-on and then Smith claimed his second of the game. Crowley converted and it was 40-29. Bordeaux had Cyril Cazeaux sent off late on but there was still time for Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score and for Lucu to convert. GLIMMER OF HOPE Echegaray had also been in the bin when Cazeaux walked and Costello felt his side could have pulled off a remarkable comeback. He said: “We forced a few passes that we didn’t need to when we felt they were under pressure so for the second half it was around addressing that, narrow the focus, stay calm and we could overturn that lead. “There was so much quality in the way we put them under pressure. “Just really disappointing not to get that last score to take us within seven with four or five minutes on the clock when they were down to 13. I would have loved to have seen what that looked like.” And Jalibert admits Munster did give his side a scare and they cannot ease up in a similar fashion when they face Top 14 rivals Toulouse or Toulon in the semi-finals. The Bordeaux ace said: “The score was a bit flattering considering the second half. “Our strength is starting a game, our weakness is finishing them. We have to be more consistent for 80 minutes.”