Ronan O'Gara kicked 14 points including the conversion after man of the match Paul O'Connell's try to set up an all-Irish semi-final against rivals Leinster.

Munster had to come from behind after trailing 10-7 at half-time to Mathieu Bourret's try, conversion and penalty.

But the wing missed two crucial kicks in the second half as Perpignan indiscipline cost them two yellow cards and now the red army will now return to Dublin later this month for their sixth appearance in the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

Munster came closest to breaking the deadlock in a cagey opening quarter when O'Connell spilled the ball as he crossed the line following Donncha O'Callaghan's break.

But after Perpignan prop Nicolas Mas was sent to the sin bin for illegally slowing a Munster attack, the giant Ireland lock went one better to grab the opening score.

Lineout force O'Connell set up a scoring position for Munster yards from the try line and was on hand to crash over on 21 minutes after Perpignan had repelled a series of drives.

O'Gara, a doubt up and until a late fitness test before the game with a hamstring problem, converted for a 7-0 home lead.

However Perpignan, who made their only Heineken Cup final appearance at this venue in 2003, showed they were not about to roll over by racing into a 10-7 lead.

The Catalans capitalised on Munster's errors and after France centre David Marty seized on lose ball in midfield, Mathieu Bourret had a clear path to the corner.

The young wing converted from the touchline on 31 minutes and added a penalty before the break to leave Perpignan ahead at the break.

But O'Gara got Munster back in front with two penalties in five minutes straight after the break to steal a 13-10 lead.

Perpignan pressed as Nicolas Durand went close but let Munster off the hook with their lack of discipline. Moments later the scrum-half was shown the yellow card by Welsh official Nigel Whitehouse while Julien Laharrague missed two speculative drop goal attempts and Bourret sliced two penalties from much closer range.

O'Gara, in contrast, kept his cool to slot over two more penalties and ease Munster through to a thrilling semi-final date against Leinster.