Fardy's Leinster through to Pro14 final

Sun, May 19, 2019, 10:48 PM
AAP
by AAP
Scott Fardy and leinster are through to the Pro14 final. Photo: Getty Images
Scott Fardy and leinster are through to the Pro14 final. Photo: Getty Images

Scott Fardy's Leinster have secured a hard-earned 24-9 semi-final win over Munster at the RDS in Dublin, which gives them a shot at back-to-back Pro14 titles.

The Australian's side will meet Glasgow Warriors at Celtic Park next Saturday in a clash of the Conference winners, as second-half tries from Sean Cronin and James Lowe - coupled with Ross Byrne's 14 points - ended Munster's hopes at the penultimate stage for the second successive year.

The last inter-provincial derby of the season was finely balanced at halftime on Saturday, Byrne's final kick giving the hosts a 9-6 lead despite losing winger Lowe to the sin-bin.

On his return to the venue, Joey Carbery landed two penalties to Byrne's three.

Although Leinster lost lineout lynchpin Devin Toner to a worrying knee injury, further goals from Byrne and Carbery were followed by Cronin's crucial 54th-minute try during Niall Scannell's sin bin.

Captain Jonathan Sexton came off the home bench to help tee up Lowe's last-minute score in the left corner, which drew the biggest cheer from the sell-out 18,977 crowd.

Josh Van der Flier's rapid recovery from a groin injury earned him his first Leinster appearance since January and he showed what his province and country have been missing with a man-of-the-match performance.

RESULT

Leinster 24

Tries: Cronin, Lowe

Cons: Byrne

Pens: Byrne 4

Munster 9

Pens: Carbery 3

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