CELTIC LEAGUE Leinster (21) 35 Tries: B Blaney, Horgan, Contepomi 2 Con: Contepomi 3 Pens: Contepomi 3 Munster (9) 23 Tries: O'Connell, Halstead Con: O'Gara 2 Pens: O'Gara 3

Brian Blaney and Shane Horgan landed first-half tries as Leinster secured a 21-9 advantage by the break.

A converted try by Ireland lock Paul O'Connell saw the deficit reduced to 21-16 after 64 minutes.

Two tries from Contepomi gave Leinster victory, even though a try by Trevor Halstead had raised Munster hopes.

Leinster scored the first try on 22 minutes when young hooker Blaney got over from a line-out drive.

Blaney's first try for his province was added to by a Contepomi penalty, but with Munster's forwards grinding out the hard yards, two place kicks from O'Gara cut the deficit back to 11-9.

However, Leinster winger Horgan struck on 37 minutes when he brushed aside the tackles from Anthony Horgan and David Wallace to sprint over at the right corner.

Contepomi converted and added his third penalty first-half stoppage-time.

Munster made it a five-point game on 65 minutes when lock O'Connell spun out of tackles from Guy Easterby and Blaney to score and O'Gara converted.

Contepomi furthered his influence on the game on 74 minutes when he chipped over Anthony Foley and beat the cover to gather the kick and slide in at the posts.

Munster hit back again when replacement Halstead sprinted over at the right corner.

But Contepomi raced onto a loose ball 35 metres out and beat the covering Horgan and Halstead to touch down at the corner flag and convert for a famous victory.

Leinster: G Dempsey, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, K Lewis, F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green, M O'Kelly, B Williams, C Jowett, K Gleeson, J Heaslip.
Replacements: R McCormack, D Blaney, A Byrnes, E Miller, B O'Riordan, J Hepworth, D Hickie.

Munster: S Payne, J Kelly, B Murphy, G Connolly, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell, D Leamy, D Wallace, A Foley.
Replacements: J Hayes, D Fogarty, T Hogan D O'Callaghan, M Prendergast, J Manning, T Halstead.