GunnersoutofluckagainstIrish

RICHARD COCKERILL reckons gutsy Gunners were unlucky after a controversial Leinster try saw his men lose in Dublin.

John Hardie appeared to be illegally taken out before Jameson Gibson-Park squeezed over but it stood, denying Edinburgh even a consolation point.

However, coach Cockerill was encouraged by their best display of the Pro14 campaign against the European giants.

He said: “It was a first-class display. Our guys put their bodies on the line and were very unlucky not to get a point – let alone a win. But we’re turning a corner.”

Edinburgh edged in front with an easy penalty by Jason Tovey and found the target again.

But then Leinster surged upfield straight from the restart to set up a try for Jordi Murphy. Johnny Sexton added the conversion.

Welsh ref Ian Davies had to deal with a brawl before Tovey turned a loose midfield pass into a seven-pointer for himself.

Joey Carbery darted over and Sexton snatched back the lead with the last kick of the half.

The Dubliners turned up the heat after the break then Gunners ace James Ritchie was sin-binned.

At the other end, Sexton was lucky to dodge a yellow for a neck grab on Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. And it was heartbreak for Gunners as Gibson-Park sealed their fate as Carbery converted.