Leinster knock out the champs

HEAD coach Noel McNamara was thrilled with his Leinster side after they put the reigning champions out of the Cup at Donnybrook on Friday.

Tries from Peadar Timmins and Jack Kelly helped the hosts to victory to secure their first semi-final place since 2015 after they led 7-6 at half-time.

“It’s a great win and we need to push on now and go further in this competition,” said McNamara.

“But we never looked past Munster, they are a really good team and a tough opposition as we expected.”

Leinster, who will clash with Jersey in the semifinal, began poorly. The Munster scrum won a penalty and out-half Bill Johnston scored the resultant kick.

But Ciaran Frawley put them deep in Munster territory, and after sustained pressure openside flanker Timmins powered over.

Frawley added the conversion for a 7-3 advantage. However, the arrears were reduced in the 15th minute with Johnston’s second penalty after Leinster had gone offside. Leinster retained that lead at halftime and just before the hour Frawley extended it after a scrum penalty.

Kelly finally put daylight between the sides in the 62nd minute after Bryan Byrne and Oisin Dowling linked well. Frawley’s conversion put Leinster out of touch and Munster coach Pete Malone said his side weren’t clinical enough.

“We didn’t do enough scoring when we got into their half and we paid for it,” said Malone. “Leinster will go far this year.”