User:CLWE/Workshop/Munster-Leinster H Cup semi-final

MERGE The 2008–09 Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Leinster was played in front of a club rugby union world record attendance of 82,208  at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland on 2 May 2009. Leinster defeated Munster by 25–6 to reach the final of the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield in Scotland. It marked the first occasion for Leinster to reach the final, having lost their previous three semi-finals. Munster, who were defending champions of the Heineken Cup, had been expected to win, with Leinster flanker Shane Jennings saying beforehand that "the whole of Ireland... will probably rank Leinster as underdogs".

The match was broadcast live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 from 17:15. Nigel Owens was the match referee. Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald and Brian O'Driscoll scored Leinster's three tries. O'Driscoll was named man of the match. Tony McGahan, the Munster coach, said he was “absolutely shattered” after the game, describing the Heineken Cup as "everything" to Munster.

The Telegraph described the match as a "sensational occasion", suggesting that the result had changed "the balance of European rugby... substantially". The Guardian reported that Munster would be "haunted" by the result, that the team had "lost before, but never by a margin such as this with so much at stake, and never at the hands of their brothers". The Irish Times referred to it as "a stunning contest, one of savage intensity, liberally sprinkled with moments of sumptuous rugby by both sides" in which "two tribes went to war". Sporting Life called Leinster's win "one of the outstanding performances in the competition's history".

Tickets
Each province was allocated approximately 30,000 tickets for the match. 5,000 tickets which were initially released on 12 April 2009 sold out within thirty minutes. This is comparable to the total attendance of 12,638 at Leinster's quarter final against Harlequins in London.

Path to the semi-final
Munster beat Ospreys by 43–9 at Thomond Park in Limerick, whilst Leinster beat Harlequins 6–5 at The Stoop, with both games taking place on 12 April 2009. Munster scored four tries in their quarter-final, whilst Leinster required two penalties from Felipe Contepomi to progress.

First half
Leinster's Felipe Contepomi had his first penalty attempt go wide of the post; however he went on to open the scoring with a drop goal after delivery from a line-out. Ronan O'Gara equalised for Munster with a penalty after a challenge by Cian Healy. Contepomi then went on to twist his leg and left the match in an injured disposition. His replacement Johnny Sexton scored almost immediately. Sexton was involved again in the opening try of the match, scored by Gordon D'Arcy in the thirty-first minute. He passed to Brian O'Driscoll, who passed to Isa Nacewa who passed it on to D'Arcy who scored what was Leinster's first European try in four games. O'Gara scored another penalty leaving the score at 11–6 at half-time.

Second half
Leinster scored the first of two second half tries at the opening of the ­second half. O'Driscoll began a counter-attack, releasing Luke Fitzgerald down the touchline. Fitzgerald soon left the match in an injured disposition; Leinster coach Michael Cheika later blamed cramp for this occurrence. O'Driscoll then intercepted an attempted pass by O'Gara to his team-mate Paul O'Connell and ran down the field to score the final try of the match.