Foley: Munster in a good position
Munster made the most of a yellow card given to Saracens prop Rhys Gill as they defeated last season's losing finalists 14-3 in a European Champions Pool One clash at Thomond Park on Friday.
But one consolation for Sarries was that flyhalf Owen Farrell made his first start for five weeks following a thigh strain and played a full 80 minutes, a fortnight before England face world champions New Zealand at Twickenham.
As rain fell steadily, a tight first half ended square at 3-all, after Ian Keatley and Farrell kicked a penalty apiece.
But with Gill in the sin-bin for a tip tackle on CJ Stander, a driving Munster maul led to replacement forward David Kilcoyne scoring the only try of the match on the hour mark.
Keatley, who landed just two out of six shots at goal, added a drop-goal to seal a victory that took two-time European champions Munster, narrow 27-26 winners in their tournament opener against Sale last week, to the top of Pool One.
"We are in a good position, but that is all it is," said Munster coach Anthony Foley.
"We have eight points. We have Clermont back-to-back in a few weeks' time, but we have a lot of work to do between now and then."