Leinster Prevail To Set Up Clash Of Conference Winners In Glasgow

Leinster put last week’s European disappointment behind them with a hard-earned 24-9 semi-final win over Munster at the RDS which gives them a shot at back-to-back GUINNESS PRO14 titles.

Leo Cullen’s men will meet Glasgow Warriors at Celtic Park next Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm), as second half tries from Sean Cronin and James Lowe – coupled with Ross Byrne’s 14 points from the tee – ended Munster’s hopes at the penultimate stage for the second successive year.

The last interprovincial derby of the season was finely balanced at half-time, Byrne’s final kick giving the hosts a 9-6 lead despite losing winger Lowe to the sin-bin. On his return to the Dublin 4 venue, Joey Carbery landed two penalties to Byrne’s three.

Although Leinster lost Devin Toner to a worrying knee injury, further goals from Byrne and Carbery were followed by Cronin’s crucial 54th-minute try during Niall Scannell’s sin-binning. Captain Jonathan Sexton came off the home bench to help tee up Lowe’s last-minute score in the left corner, which drew the biggest cheer from the sell-out 18,977 crowd.

Josh van der Flier’s recovery from a groin injury earned him his first Leinster appearance since January and he showed what his province and country have been missing with a terrific man-of-the-match performance. Carbery and Keith Earls returned from injury for Munster, who were pipped 16-15 in the corresponding fixture last May.

Out-halves Byrne and Carbery traded early penalties, Lowe posing a threat on the right wing but he was guilty of taking out Conor Murray soon after. Munster gained ground through Chris Farrell’s robust carries, but a Robbie Henshaw turnover sparked Leinster’s counter-attack from deep which included a pacy Garry Ringrose break.

Van der Flier was crowded out in the left corner following a clever short lineout between Cronin and James Ryan, yet Munster were more efficient with ball in hand. Murray’s well-timed pass sent Tadhg Beirne charging into the 22 and pressure out wide led to Lowe’s sin-binning for a deliberate knock-on. Carbery split the posts again from the right for a deserved 6-3 lead.

Munster’s approach work was impressive as Farrell, Rory Scannell and Dave Kilcoyne continued to make yards. Their scrum also won two penalties but turnovers from van der Flier and Cian Healy allowed Leinster to hit back. Byrne kicked two more penalties, the latter rewarding a sparkling midfield surge from Jordan Larmour.

Byrne’s right boot grew in influence with an early second half penalty, set up by Cronin’s defence-splitting charge via a Luke McGrath pass. It was a double setback for Munster with Cronin’s opposite number Scannell binned for being caught offside on the retreat.

Carbery replied after his own excellent touchfinder and Arno Botha’s skittling of tacklers, only for Leinster to find the next gear. First they created space for Lowe on the left and Ringrose then capitalised on an overlap on right, linking with the entire front row as Cronin cut in past Jean Kleyn’s tackle to crash over. Byrne converted for a sudden 19-9 advantage.

Having scrambled well to absorb Sexton’s smart break, Munster pressed again through their forwards. Their maul was thwarted in the Leinster 22, though, and Scott Fardy came up with an important turnover. Tightening their control, Leinster duly got back into position for Sexton and Rory O’Loughlin to send Lowe over in the corner, past Mike Haley and a last-ditch tackle from Farrell.

In what what will prove an historic occasion on Scottish soil next Saturday, Glasgow Warriors will attempt to reclaim the title they first won in 2015, while defending champions Leinster will enter their ninth Championship decider looking to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

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Giving his reaction after the game, Leinster head coach Cullen said: “We are pleased. It was far from a perfect performance but the lads go the job done. Off the back of the week that we had, and the disappointment, we were delighted to be back here at the RDS. It was always going to be a tough challenge getting up from that final regardless of the result.

“I think it was important to freshen things up because it was such a physical toll last week. The emotional part of it as well. We invested so much into that game so it was a really tricky few days to try and turn the guys around but the attitude and application has been fantastic.

“The group worked incredibly hard this week so credit to the players because you can’t underestimate the physical and emotional toll of losing a final against a good team. For us, we just need to try and do it again. It will be an unbelievably tough challenge against Glasgow. We’ve got a lot of respect for what Glasgow do.

“Dave Rennie, when I was still playing, I went over the Chiefs and he’d so much time for me as a coach, I could see first hand how good a coach he was. It’s going to be a good challenge for us, Glasgow beat us here a few weeks ago. It’s great, another final, it’s a testament to all the work that goes on behind the scenes, making sure everyone’s in good shape at this time of the season, so it’s one more final push.”

Asked about what he said to his players post-match, Munster boss Johann van Graan commented: “The message is we will come back stronger next year. The effort and attitude I can’t fault. They gave it everything out there. Unfortunately, we got beaten by a better team on the day.

“We did some really good things but you can’t give them 13 times (Munster conceded 13 penalties to Leinster’s seven) that they go to a lineout from a penalty and then they put you under pressure and you’ve got to defend in your own half against a quality team like Leinster.

“We could have built more pressure. We got a few penalties and you have to use your opportunities. I felt that in the second half there were a few big moments – that charge-down off Rory (Scannell), it just didn’t bounce up for him.

“Then Joey kicked it into the corner and it rolled out, they get a five-metre lineout and we concede a penalty straight away. I’m going to go back, once again, to discipline. It wasn’t good enough from the whole group on the day and you’ve got to finish those opportunities in a semi-final. It’s soft exits and we’ve got to take that on the chin.”