Leinster are through to the 2020 Guinness Pro14 Final following a 13-3 defeat of Munster at the Aviva Stadium this evening.
It’s a case of another semi-final and another loss at that stage of the competition for the men in red who had their chances in a disappointing game in D4.
When the sides met recently in the competition, it produced a six-try game. As a result, more was expected of this semi-final but the experience of Leo Cullen’s men got them over the line in a low scoring game.
In a stark contrast to the provinces most recent meeting, a 27th minute try from Ronan Kelleher – which the officials decided did not involve a double movement – was the only five-pointer of the night.
Kelleher’s score put the eastern province into the lead for the first time in the game, after JJ Hanrahan had put Munster 3-0 up early on.
With Jonathan Sexton converting Kelleher’s try, Leinster found themselves 7-3 ahead on the scoreboard.
A Sexton penalty on the stroke of half-time sent his side in 10-3 to the good at the interval.
Though Munster had some penalty opportunities in the second half, some of which Hanrahan didn’t kick for goal, others he missed, the southern province never really looked like getting over the Leinster line to score a much-needed try to get them back into the game.
Another Sexton penalty thirteen minutes from the final whistle secured the win for his side and ended Johann van Graan’s men’s season as a 13-3 final score condemned Munster to a fifth straight semi-final defeat in all competitions.
Leinster now await the winners of the second Guinness Pro14 semi-final between Edinburgh and Ulster.
