Munster book URC final date after famous win v Leinster

Leinster's double dreams are over. Munster's are only beginning.

Just a few months ago, many were predicting that Munster would miss out on Champions Cup rugby, but Graham Rowntree's side have defied the odds for the fourth week in a row, to book their place in the BKT United Rugby Championship final, one step away from a first trophy in 12 years.

The fact that they have to return to South Africa for a third time in two months for the Cape Town final against the Stormers won't bother them in the slightest.

For an added bonus, they've ended Leinster's hopes of a famous European and URC double.

Leo Cullen's side could still be celebrating on the Aviva Stadium pitch in seven days when they face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final, but they were second best this evening against a Munster side that refused to quit.

The visitors played all the rugby, but it took a Jack Crowley dropgoal in the final three minutes to get them over the line, and beat their rivals for the first time in two years.

Had they lost, Rowntree's side would have lived to regret a profligate attack that continued to turn down shots at goal in favour of going for tries.

Aside from Tadhg Beirne's try on 46 minutes, they were wasteful in the Leinster 22, while the hosts were the opposite; tries for Jason Jenkins and Joe McCarthy looked like seeing them fall over the winning line until Crowley's late intervention.

Today, intent got the better of execution. Munster came to Dublin without a win against Leinster in a knockout game since 2011, and physically depleted with injuries to Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, RG Snyman and Malakai Fekitoa.

They won the game at the breakdown, winning the penalty count 10-5 against an indisciplined Leinster, who struggled to gain any