Celtic League Glory For Leinster

Leinster created history this afternoon when they captured the Celtic League with a 24-20 victory over Munster at Lansdowne Road. In front of a crowd of

Leinster created history this afternoon when they captured the Celtic League with a 24-20 victory over Munster at Lansdowne Road. In front of a crowd of over 25,000, these two sides served up a game of high quality entertaining football.

In the end it needed two tries, from Gordon Darcy and Shane Horgan, to turn this tie in Leinster’s favour after Munster had enjoyed the greater degree of dominace. However, credit fourteen man Leinster for sticking to their task so well.

Munster led 12-6 at the end of a dramatic first half with tries at the start from Anthony Foley and right at the end from John O’Neill. Nathan Spooner kicked two penalties having missed a sitter in the opening minute.

But the drama unfolded at the end of the first quarter when first Mike Prendergast was sin-binned after Dominic Crotty had produced a try-saving tackle on Shane Horgan and then moments later, Eric Miller was sent off by referee Nigel Whitehouse.

In the second half O’Gara extended his side’s lead with 46th minute penalty but two penalties from Spooner kept Leinster in the hunt and set them up nicely. Munster had the final say when Anthony Horgan forced his way over in the left hand corner but when O’Gara’s conversion attempt slipped left and wide referee Whitehouse sounded the final whistle.