An injury time try from Munster wing John Kelly, converted by Ronan O'Gara, ensured that Munster qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals in the most dramatic fashion.

The result sees the Munstermen pip Gloucester for second place in Pool 2 behind French side Perpignan.

O'Gara opened the scoring with an eighth-minute penalty goal, but the Munster lead lasted only three minutes when Gloucester outside-half Ludovic Mercier put over his first penalty goal.

In a bright first quarter Munster were well on top, but with tries the order of the day, O'Gara consistently opted to kick for the corner rather than take easy points, and Munster got their reward when Ireland winger Kelly to dived over in the corner.

Gloucester recovered well to pin Munster deep in their own 22 and the pressure yielded a second successful penalty for Mercier in the 29th minute.

But for the Merceron penalties, Gloucester - the English premiership leaders - could not get on the scoresheet with Munster dominating possession.

As the first half drew to a close an O'Gara penalty goal and a Mossie Lawlor try extended the home advantage.

Desperate defending from Gloucester kept out Pete Stringer and O'Gara early in the second period, but when Mick O'Driscoll scored Munster's third try just before the hour - qualification began to look possible.

O'Gara's conversion stretched Munster's lead to 26-6.

And Munster maintained their dominance as the match drew to a close, but individual errors were creeping in as Munster nerves began to show.

But Munster have shown in eight seasons of Heineken Cup competition that they are one of the top sides in the world.

And they proved it once again as the marauding pack made a desperate final charge towards the Gloucester line. Kelly crossed for the crucial fourth try which O'Gara converted to give Munster the winning margin they required to see them through to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for a fifth consecutive season.