After a stunning Simon Zebo opener in Galway, things were looking up for Munster as they chased a crucial victory at the Sportsground.
Mike Sherry added to Zebo's touchdown with a score of his own, before a Niyi Adeolokun finish and a penalty try with Munster down to 13 men put Connacht 20-14 up at the break.
It was the second half, however, when Connacht ran riot; they squeezed the life out of their southern neighbours who failed to add to their tally, scoring two further tries of their own to earn a spectacular 35-14 victory.
First, Niyi Adeolokun gave Connacht a 25-14 lead with his second try of the afternoon.
Munster's rather pathetic effort to gather the ball after a probing flick of the boot from Robbie Henshaw was a microcosm of another dark evening for the province, though Adeolokun did appear at first glance to spill the ball forward before collecting it and crashing over near the corner.
Referee Ben Whitehouse seemed to changed his mind several times as to whether the ball had struck the Nigerian-born Dubliner on the knee or the hand - however, his reiteration that it had struck a Munster boot first means he was likely to have considered it a charge-down and awarded a try regardless.
With Munster reeling, it was a Munster man in Ultan Dillane who continued the demolition. The Tralee lock exploded through the Munster defence with what's rapidly becoming a 'trademark' break. A disorganised Munster line were then powerless to stop Finlay Bealham crashing over under the posts.
There were people on the pitch. There were stewards going apeshit. There were Munster hands in heads. But just listen to the roar when Dillane steps on the gas.
Munster failed to register a score after the 26th minute, and there can surely no longer be any arguments as to where either of these sides rank in the Irish provincial pecking order.
With the bonus point, Connacht go level with Leinster at the top of the Pro12 table, while Munster slip to a precarious 7th ahead of two season-defining home fixtures with sixth place Edinburgh and fifth place Scarlets.
