Final fling for Leinster

Leinster reached their first Heineken Cup final, ending Munster's reign as European champions in the process, with a stunning 25-6 win at Croke Park.

The underdogs upset the odds in a gripping all-Irish clash played out in front of a record crowd for a non-international contest.

Tries from Gordon D'Arcy and Luke Fitzgerald either side of half time gave Leinster a cushion before Brian O'Driscoll sealed the result in style.

The Ireland skipper raced up to seize a pass intended for Paul O'Connell, the man who edged him out for the British and Irish Lions captaincy, before galloping 70 metres to score.

Semi-final hoodoo

Conceding for a third time killed off any hopes of a comeback from newly-crowned Magners League champions Munster, who failed to find the form they displayed in their dismantling of the Ospreys in the last round.

Their struggles had much to do with the performance of their opponents as Leinster fought tooth and nail to end their semi-final hoodoo.

Beaten at the same stage three times previously, including a 30-6 loss to the men from Limerick in 2006, they could have been forgiven for having some pre-match nerves.

However, their 6-5 success over Harlequins last time out in the competition showed this was a much different side, one capable of matching a mighty Munster pack boasting plenty of Lions.

The result was even more impressive considering they lost Felipe Contepomi to a serious-looking knee injury after just 25 eventful minutes.

The inspirational fly-half barely threatened the posts with an early penalty attempt before having better luck with a drop goal that broke the deadlock.

Cian Healy's needless shoulder charge on Ian Dowling gave Ronan O'Gara the chance to level matters and forced referee Nigel Owens to reach for his pocket.

A yellow card was produced for the prop, leaving Leinster a man light. As if that wasn't bad enough, Contepomi's contest was soon over when he slipped trying to cut through the defensive line and had to be helped from the field.

Replacement Jonathan Sexton stroked over a penalty with his first kick before the opening try came courtesy of a fine break from Isa Nacewa that was just about finished off in the left corner by D'Arcy.

The otherwise impeccable Rocky Elsom, a shining light in the back-row alongside the equally impressive Jamie Heaslip, blotted his copybook with a tug on Doug Howlett that allowed O'Gara to slot over three points, making it 11-6 at the break.

Inside step

Boosted by their first try in the competition in four matches, Leinster managed another early try in the second half when Fitzgerald's scissor-like inside step cut him past full-back Paul Warwick to touch down.

Sexton's conversion from out wide made it a 12-point gap that grew even further thanks to a moment of brilliance from the man known as 'BOD'.

Reading the play perfectly, the centre intercepted a floated pass from O'Gara, who endured a miserable evening, before showing he still has enough gas left in the tank to motor away.

His finish under the posts, leaving an easy kick at goal, put the final nail in Munster's coffin and confirmed it would be the blue of Leinster who would be Ireland's representatives at Murrayfield on May 23, either against Cardiff or Leicester.