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Munster show their mettle
6 - 30
Lansdowne Road, Dublin   Att: 47,800
Referee: Joel Jutge
Sunday 23rd April 2006, 15:00
MatchDayLive - Live audio and text tracking
Guide to Dublin
Ronan O'Gara
Ronan O'Gara had an impressive match for Munster
Richard Heathcote
Match report
Ronan O'Gara scored 20 points as Munster brushed aside Irish rivals Leinster at a packed Lansdowne Road in Dublin on Sunday.

Munster skipper Anthony Foley celebrated his 75th Heineken Cup match with a powerful performance to propel his side into the Cup final against Biarritz Olympique in Cardiff on Saturday, May 20.

O'Gara kicked regular goals to keep his side in front throughout, and his 80th-minute try was just reward for a fine performance.

Munster went straight on to the attack from the kick-off, and O'Gara opened the scoring with a penalty goal in only the second minute. A Paul O'Connell steal at a Leinster lineout set up a royal try-scoring opportunity and backrower Denis Leamy was shoved over the line to extend his side's lead.

The visitors lost centre John Kelly to a shoulder injury after 15 minutes, and Leinster gradually got back into the game. Fly-half Felipe Contepomi kicked a penalty goal from in front, but the good work was undone when O'Connell was taken out at a lineout and O'Gara converted the penalty.

A controversial decision to penalise Contepomi gave O'Gara the chance to slot his fourth goal of the match, and Contepomi's poor game got considerably worse when he dragged a simple shot at goal well wide.

The Munster-dominated crowd started a fourth rendition of "Fields of Athenry"
as their side took a 16-3 lead into the final exchanges of the first half, and that remained the score as a late O'Gara attempt sneaked past the wrong side of the upright.

Contepomi had the first chance to open the second-half scoring, but his angled attempt hit a post, and it seemed to sum up Leinster's afternoon as their opponents dominated territory and possession in the third quarter.

Kelly's replacement, Rob Henderson, limped off after 65 minutes, and Contepomi narrowed the margin to 10 points with a point-blank penalty goal. Munster prop Federico Pucciarello was sin-binned for repeated infringements, but Contepomi's kick was wide and Munster fans began planning their trip to Cardiff.

Munster attacked until the final whistle and they were rewarded when O'Gara brushed off some tired tackle attempts to score behind the posts. His conversion seemed to have sealed a famous victory, but Munster weren't finished yet. Centre Trevor Halstead intercepted a Leinster attack and ran 70 metres for the final try of the game.

Leinster V Munster
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 






Girvan Dempsey
15
Shaun Payne












Shane Horgan
14
Anthony Horgan












Brian O'Driscoll (capt)
13
John Kelly





Replacement off






Gordon D'Arcy
12
Trevor Halstead

1










Denis Hickie
11
Ian Dowling







2




Felipe Contepomi
10
Ronan O'Gara

1
3

3







Guy Easterby
9
Peter Stringer






Replacement off





Reggie Corrigan
1
Federico Pucciariello





Yellow card






Brian Blaney
2
Jerry Flannery












Will Green
3
John Hayes












Bryce Williams
4
Donncha O'Callaghan












Malcolm O'Kelly
5
Paul O'Connell





Man of the Match
Replacement off





Cameron Jowitt
6
Denis Leamy

1










Keith Gleeson
7
David Wallace












Jamie Heaslip
8
Anthony Foley (capt)





Replacement off
Replacements






David Blaney
16
Denis Fogarty






Replacement on





Ronan McCormack
17
Frank Roche





Replacement on






Niall Ronan
18
Mick O'Driscoll






Replacement on





Eric Miller
19
Stephen Keogh












Brian O'Riordan
20
Tomas O'Leary





Replacement on






Kieran Lewis
21
Jeremy Manning












Rob Kearney
22
Rob Henderson





Replacement on
Penalty Tries

First half timeline
1MunsterBoth teams walked out together in front of the Irish President ahead of what promises to be one of the greatest games ever at Lansdowne Road.
1MunsterRonan O\'Gara kicks of to the sound of Fields of Athenry, and Munster immediately stage an attack. John Kelly goes into the 22 and O\'Gara is stripped of the ball in the tackle to earn a penalty.
2Munster
Penalty kick - R O'Gara
The leading points scorer in Heineken Cup history gets his side off the mark
3LeinsterO\'Connell gathers the restart and makes ground, O\'Gara kicks deep into the Leinster 22.
4MunsterLeinster win a penalty but fail to find touch, Payne punishes them with huge clearing kick.
5LeinsterLeinster run out of 22, but O\'Drsicoll loses the ball in tackle. Munster attack again before conceding a penalty on the Leinster 22.
8MunsterThere is a strong breeze behind Munster, and it\'s a very physical start from both teams
9MunsterO\'Connell steals Leinster ball near half-way and Munster win penalty. O\'Gara kicks to left corner for Munster lineout 5 metres out.
10Munster
Try - D Leamy
O\'Connell takes the lineout and the famous Munster catch and drive yields the first try of the match from Leamy
11Munster
Conversion - R O'Gara
Amid the hush of Lansdowne Road, O\'Gara adds the extras
12MunsterMunster again drive the restart back over half way, and Stringer\'s chip puts them into the Leinster 22.
14Munster
Substitution - R Henderson on for J Kelly
Kelly clutches his left shoulder as he walks off the pitch
15MunsterMunster win another lineout but O\'Gara\'s long drop goal attempt falls short
15LeinsterHenderson loses the ball with his first touch and Leinster open out from their 22. Hickie rounds two men but just puts a foot in touch 30m out from his line.
18LeinsterContepomi kicks downfield for Hickie to chase, but Horgan saves Munster 10 metres out. Stringer clears to give Leinster a lineout 30 out.
19LeinsterJowitt wins lineout but Contepomi\'s box kick goes out on the full. O\'Gara pumps the ball back with interest
22Leinster
Penalty kick - F Contepomi
Leinster attack from the lineout through Heaslip and earn a penalty when Munster infringe at a ruck in front of the posts. Contepomi hits the mark from 25m
24Munster
Penalty kick - R O'Gara
From the restart Leinster try to run out of their 22, but concede a lineout which O\'Connell steals. Leinster pull him down to give O\'Gara another shot at goal.
25MunsterMunster have a scrum on halfway after Contepomi fluffs restart. O\'Gara pegs Leinster back into their 22.
29LeinsterAnother mistake from Contepomi allows Horgan and Stringer to push Munster back into the Leinster 22, but they lose lineout and Leinster have possession again.
32Munster
Penalty kick - R O'Gara
Touch Judge awards Munster a penalty, and O\'Gara extends the advantage to 13 points
34LeinsterMunster are called offside on their own 22, but Contepomi pulls his goal kick wide
37LeinsterLeinster have a passage of attacking play in the Munster half, they know they must close the gap before the half time whistle
38LeinsterLeinster are trying desperately to get their game going, but the long pass from O\'Driscoll to Hickie goes out of play.
40 +1MunsterPayne and Foley lead the Munster charge out of their half before Henderson and Flannery take it on into the Leinster 22. Munster concede a penalty to allow Leinster to clear their lines.
40 +3LeinsterAs the first half clock ticks down Leinster build a promising attack down the left hand side a \"ball through the legs\" pass from O\'Driscoll allows Hickie to kick deep into Munster 22. Dowling covers and Payne clears
40 +5MunsterLeinster concede penalty on their 10m line, but O\'Gara misses on this occasion
Second half timeline
41LeinsterContempomi\'s kick gets the second half underway, O\'Gara\'s kick finds touch
41LeinsterLeinster\'s first lineout is not straight, and Munster attack from the scrum through Halstead
43MunsterMunster go through six phases before Stringer runs into referee Jutge. Munster scrum on Leinster 22
46MunsterAfter three scrums on the Leinster 22, Halstead almost breaks clear but Flannery knocks on Easterby clears.
46LeinsterWallace turns over ball and Contepomi drives Leinster into the 22
47LeinsterLeinster concede a free kick at the lineout, O\'Gara clears to the 10m line
50LeinsterHickie is held in the tackle 40m out, but Contepomi\'s afternoon gets worse at his kick hits the uprights.
51MunsterLeinster concede a penalty on their 10m line, and O\'Gara pushes the reds into another attacking position.
54MunsterA close range drive from the Munster place keeps Leinster pegged back in their 22, but Dowling holds on in the tackle and is penalised
57MunsterBoth sides playing running rugby, but Leinster are guilty of driving in from the side of a ruck. O\'Gara puts his kick into the corner.
57Leinster
Substitution - E Miller on for C Jowitt
59MunsterO\'Connell collects the lineout ball, and the drive on. Leinster hold on, but are penalised. O\'Gara keeps the pressure on by kicking for the corner again.
59MunsterPucciariello peels around the back of the lineout and almost reaches the line. O\'Connell has another drive but Leinster hold firm.
61MunsterMunster drive forward from the second put in and win a penalty. Foley attacks the line but is held just short. Miller is penalised, and O\'Gara kicks for the corner again.
63MunsterMunster are camped on the Leinster line, but eventually knock and Easterby kicks to the 10m line
66LeinsterLeinster\'s defence is holding firm under intense Munster pressure, the men in red dominating both possession and territory
67LeinsterLeinster finally get their attack going and Easterby and Contepomi run into the Munster 22. They win a penalty in front of the posts which Contepomi takes quickly, But Hickie knocks on and the chance is lost.
68Munster
Substitution - T O'Leary on for R Henderson
71Leinster
Penalty kick - F Contepomi
Contepomi and Easterby drive Leinster into Munster 22. Munster are called offside in front of the posts This time Contepomi aims for the posts and scores
72Leinster
Substitution - R McCormack on for R Corrigan
73LeinsterLeinster are back in Munster\'s half thanks to O\'Driscoll\'s kick to keep comeback hopes alive and give their fans something to cheer about
74LeinsterMiller and Blaney combine to break the Munster defence but the hooker\'s inside pass to Heaslip is forward and the danger is over.
75Munster
Substitution - F Roche on for A Foley
76Munster
Yellow card - F Pucciariello
77LeinsterContepomi\'s kick falls wide to the right of the posts , and the Dublin side still trail by two scoreas.
79Munster
Temporary sub - F Roche on for A Foley
80Munster
Try - R O'Gara
Concerted pressure from Munster pays off when O\'Gara fends off Leinster tacklers to score a fantastic try and steer his side into their third Heineken Cup final
80 +1Munster
Conversion - R O'Gara
80 +4Munster
Try - T Halstead
Leinster attack until the end but a pass from Easterby to Williams was intercepted by Halstead, and the South African centre raced 75 metres to score. O\'Gara converted. The match is over.
80 +4Munster
Conversion - R O'Gara
Results so far
Leinster
DateStageOppositionScore
23/4/06Semi FinalsMunsterL 6-30
1/4/06Quarter FinalsToulouseW 41-35
22/1/06Pool 5Bath RugbyW 35-23
14/1/06Pool 5Glasgow WarriorsW 46-22
17/12/05Pool 5BourgoinL 28-30
10/12/05Pool 5BourgoinW 53-7
30/10/05Pool 5Glasgow WarriorsW 33-20
22/10/05Pool 5Bath RugbyL 19-22
Munster
DateStageOppositionScore
20/5/06FinalBiarritz Olympique Pays BasqueW 23-19
23/4/06Semi FinalsLeinsterW 30-6
1/4/06Quarter FinalsPerpignanW 19-10
21/1/06Pool 1Sale SharksW 31-9
13/1/06Pool 1Castres OlympiqueW 46-9
17/12/05Pool 1Newport Gwent DragonsW 30-18
10/12/05Pool 1Newport Gwent DragonsW 24-8
29/10/05Pool 1Castres OlympiqueW 42-16
21/10/05Pool 1Sale SharksL 13-27
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Previous Heineken Cup meetings
DateStageHomeScoreAway
Sat 2nd May 09Semi FinalsMunster6 - 25Leinster
Sun 23rd Apr 06Semi FinalsLeinster6 - 30Munster
Heineken CupHistory
Leinster
2009/10 - Pool 6
2007/08 - Pool 6
2006/07 - Quarter Finals
2005/06 - Semi Finals
2004/05 - Quarter Finals
2003/04 - Pool 3
2002/03 - Semi Finals
2001/02 - Quarter Finals
2000/01 - Pool 1
1999/00 - Pool 1
1998/99 - Pool A
1997/98 - Pool A
1996/97 - Pool B
1995/96 - Semi Finals
Munster
2009/10 - Pool 1
2007/08 - Champions
2006/07 - Quarter Finals
2005/06 - Champions
2004/05 - Quarter Finals
2003/04 - Semi Finals
2002/03 - Semi Finals
2001/02 - Runners up
2000/01 - Semi Finals
1999/00 - Runners up
1998/99 - Quarter Finals
1997/98 - Pool D
1996/97 - Pool D
1995/96 - Pool D
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