Munster fell to a 16-15 Guinness PRO14 semi-final defeat at the hands of Leinster at the RDS on Saturday afternoon with the hosts progressing to the Aviva Stadium final next Saturday.
Keith Earls and Gerbrandt Grobler touched down for Munster in the second half with JJ Hanrahan kicking a penalty and Ian Keatley a conversion for Johann van Graan’s side but it wasn’t enough.
Leinster took the lead after eight minutes thanks to a Jack Conan try under the posts after the hosts’ first real period of pressure with a James Lowe offload setting the number 8 away.
Joey Carbery added the conversion and Leinster led 7-0.
Munster were dealt an early blow when Jack O’Donoghue sustained a leg injury after superbly hauling down James Ryan with Robin Copeland replacing the Waterford man after 10 minutes.
Leinster looked dangerous in possession but Munster were defending well with Earls and CJ Stander both winning important penalties at the breakdown and captain Peter O’Mahony making a steal at the front of the lineout.
Munster were off the mark on 18 minutes thanks to a Hanrahan penalty after Leinster were penalised at the breakdown as the visitors built up a head of steam and there were four points between the sides.
Leinster led by seven once again when Ross Byrne landed a penalty before a magnificent try-saving tackle from Sammy Arnold in the left corner prevented Lowe from going over for a second Leinster try.
Munster attacked again but Hanrahan’s long-range penalty drifted wide with the visitors piling on the pressure as the half drew to a close but the Leinster defence held firm.
Jean Kleyn was sent to the sin bin on 36 minutes for an illegal clearout at the ruck as 14-man Munster trailed 10-3 at the break.
Munster started the half brilliantly, winning two turnovers and then scoring a much deserved first try as Earls finished superbly in the left corner.
Simon Zebo made the telling pass out wide and Keatley, on for the injured Hanrahan at half-time, was narrowly off target with the touchline conversion and the Leinster lead was cut to two points with 43 minutes gone.
Munster indiscipline saw Leinster kick their second penalty through Byrne three minutes later and excellent maul defence from the Munster pack moments later won a crucial turnover as Leinster went for their second try.
Byrne pulled a penalty wide after Leinster won a scrum penalty and Munster were then unlucky to be penalised yards from the Leinster line before the hosts got the upper hand in another scrum but Carbery hooked his penalty wide.
Munster had a great chance to score a game-leveling try when Conor Murray kicked a penalty to within five yards of the Leinster line but the hosts’ defence were up to the task once again.
Leinster looked to have wrapped up the win when Carbery struck over a penalty when Munster were penalised in the scrum to give Leinster a 16-8 lead with 76 minutes played.
But Munster weren’t done yet and replacement Grobler touched down off the base of the posts with Keatley converting to make it a one-point game as just over a minute remained.
One last attack from deep was launched by Zebo and Earls in the final play and they very nearly broke through the last line of Leinster defence but the hosts managed to win a turnover near halfway to clinch the win.
Guinness PRO14 Semi-Final Round-Up
Munster end the season having reached the semi-final stage of both the Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14.
Simon Zebo, Robin Copeland and Gerbrandt Grobler played their final games for Munster.
Jack O’Donoghue and JJ Hanrahan both went off injured and will be assessed by the Munster medical staff.
Rhys Marshall made his 50th Munster appearance in the clash.
Munster: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold (Darren Sweetnam, 69), Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan (inj, Ian Keatley, h-t), Conor Murray; James Cronin (Dave Kilcoyne, 53), Rhys Marshall (Niall Scannell, 59), John Ryan (Ciaran Parker, 74); Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (Gerbrandt Grobler, 51); Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue (inj, Robin Copeland, 10), CJ Stander.
