Leicester's last trophy came in 2002

"Trophies matter, of course they do," he told BBC Sport. "Year on year we judge ourselves on that, nothing else.

"We have been in a few finals in the last few years and never clinched it, so hopefully this is the start for us.

"We will enjoy this for a bit and then focus on our Heineken Cup semi-final with Llanelli (Scarlets) next week."

Reaction: Leicester win EDF Cup

The Tigers are also guaranteed a place in the Guinness Premiership play-offs as they chase an unprecedented treble this season.

Coach Pat Howard, who returns to Australia at the end of the season, admitted his side needed to "get the monkey off our backs", having lost several finals and semi-finals recently.

Fair play to Ospreys, that was a hell of a comeback Martin Corry

"There are a few blokes here who haven't won trophies so it was really important," he said.

"But when you look at blokes like Martin Castrogiovanni, who's 24, Dan Hipkiss is 24, Sam Vesty's still a young man...we have a lot of blokes who really want to play well for Leicester and I am really happy for them. It is a fantastic victory."

Hipkiss, who was named man-of-the-match for his incisive display at centre, admitted victory was hugely significant for a club which has not won anything since their league and Heineken Cup double in 2002.

"It's difficult to say how much this means," he said. "After all those years in the Leicester Academy watching '"Johnno" (former Tigers captain Martin Johnson) lifting all those trophies, it is a very emotional moment."

606: DEBATE What a great match. All over by half time, then it wasn't, nine tries and some tremendous individual performances Hox

Leicester led 28-9 at half-time but a stirring second-half comeback by the Ospreys brought them to within three points at 31-28 down, and they made the Tigers sweat until the final whistle.

"Fair play to Ospreys, that was a hell of a comeback," Corry added.

"We felt we had them, grinding them down, but we spilled the ball, they scored from 80m and made it a hell of a game.

"We are disappointed we let the lead slip but we got the trophy at the end and that is what counts."