Playing against a stiff breeze, Munster trailed 12-10 at the break after David Holwell had kicked four penalties.

Marcus Horan was the Munster try-scorer while Paul Burke landed the conversion and added a penalty.

In the second half two Burke penalties edged Munster ahead but then the out-half had his tackle on Girvan Dempsey broken and the Leinster full-back scored wide on the right at the Havelock Square end.

With five minutes remaining referee Nigel Whitehouse, on the advice of his touch judge, dismissed Holwell and with less than a minute of normal time remaining the outstanding Foley pounced for the winnning score.

Munster: Shaun Payne; John Kelly (P Devlin), Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan, Paul Burke, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes (G McIlwham); Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; Alan Quinlan, David Wallace (D Leamy), Anthony Foley capt

Leinster: Girvan Dempsey; Shane Horgan, Brian O Driscoll, Gordon D Arcy, Denis Hickie (D Quinlan); David Holwell Guy Easterby (B O'Meara); Reggie Corrigan capt Shane Byrne Emmett Byrne; Leo Cullen, Malcolm O Kelly; Des Dillon, Keith Gleeson (S Jennings), Victor Costello (A McCullen).

Referee: N Whitehouse.