GLEEFUL Gregor Townsend today admitted Glasgow's superb 22-5 triumph over Heineken Cup semi-finalists Munster at Thomond Park has given them hope of claiming a first ever-home PRO12 play-off semi.

Warriors produced a stunning first-half performance to go into the break with a 22-5 lead through touchdowns from Jonny Gray, Sean Maitland and Josh Strauss.

Although CJ Stander crossed for Munster, an outstanding Glasgow display saw Toony's troops hold firm after the interval to claim their first win in Limerick since May 2008 and end six years of torment in the Irish province.

This famous victory has taken Glasgow to within five points of second-placed Ulster, with a game in hand, and with the Ravenhill outfit set to visit Scotstoun on Friday night.

Townsend had no hesitation in hailing the Munster munch as the season's highlight so far.

The Warriors head coach said: "We are now definitely in the mix for a first-ever home semi-final and with Ulster coming to Scotstoun on Friday we have the chance to try to push our claim in that regard even harder.

"But this victory over Munster was probably the best of the season so far.

"We had gone to Thomond with the mindset that we were not going to fear Munster but instead be utterly determined to impose our game on them.

"As we know our record is not the best in Limerick, and the fact that Munster had just thrashed Toulouse by putting six tries on them en route to making the Heineken semi-finals underlines the size of the task we faced. But I felt the boys really lifted their levels from the victory over Treviso the previous week, and to have taken our winning run to four at the business end of the season is great work.

"So we have the perfect platform into the Ulster game and we must do everything we can to win that one and try to make sure we have our destiny in our own hands when it comes to the quest for a home semi-final in the play-offs."

Townsend added: "I was just really proud of the boys, they kept up their level of performance throughout and did not relent at any stage. It is a big, big win for us and definitely the most special of the season."

TOONY had praise for his loose-head prop Gordy Reid who put in a particularly powerful scrimmaging performance against South African behemoth BJ Botha.

He said: "That was Gordy's fifth start in a row and he has played against some of the best props in the game in recent weeks and acquitted himself really well. He had a superb break and was very unlucky not to create a try from it, but he has come in for Ryan Grant and more than held his own."

But as he looked forward to Friday night's collision with Ulster Toony admitted only Glasgow's best will do to keep their four-game winning run going.

He rapped: "Ulster are in fine form and our victory combined with their thrashing of Connacht has taken them second, and into a home semi-final berth, and they won't want to relinquish that.

"So we are going to have to dig deep and with them having played on Friday and us on Saturday and just having a six-day turnaround that is going to be challenging.

"But we have been improving week on week and with a big Scotstoun crowd behind us we will do everything to get the win we need."