Off-colour Leinster dump Munster out again

Cian Healy celebrates Ronan Kelleher’s match-winning try from a tight contest at the Avivia Stadium

An out-of-sorts Leinster consigned Munster to a third Guinness PRO14 semi-final defeat in as many seasons, as a Ronan Kelleher try and the boot of Johnny Sexton recorded a 13-3 victory at a damp – and empty – Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

The occasion proved novel as the first PRO14 semi-final in history to be played behind closed doors, but the result remained the same as Leinster proved more clinical than their rivals, despite a host of errors stemming the flow of their performance.

Head coach Leo Cullen will be aware of such a fact ahead of next weekend’s final, as a series of knock-ons and penalties were uncharacteristically present in Leinster’s play, and but for Munster’s JJ Hanrahan missing twice of the tee, the contest could have proven far more costly.

The defending champions got the job done though, as they have so routinely in recent years. Indeed this victory keeps them unbeaten in the league this season – a remarkable statistic.

Leinster will now face either Edinburgh or Ulster in the final on September 12 – who face each other on Saturday in the other semi-final at Murrayfield (7.35pm kick-off).

More to follow…