Leamy makes dual intentions clear

DENIS LEAMY has admitted Munster are determined to do the Magners League and Amlin Challenge Cup double after he led his side to a hard-fought triumph over the Scarlets in west Wales.

The two sides were locked at 6-6 with just over 10 minutes to play after Paul Warwick and Rhys Priestland traded penalties in a poor affair. But Simon Zebo pounced for an opportunist try on 68 minutes to clinch a dramatic win.

The narrow victory means Munster finished top of the Magners League and guaranteed a Thomond Park play-off semi-final with two regular season games left to play.

Tony McGahan’s men face Harlequins in an Amlin Challenge Cup semi at Thomond Park on April 30, before the Magners League play-offs on the weekend of May 13.

Leamy said: “We’re delighted to get the home draw, especially after the disappointments of this year in the Heineken Cup. A home semi-final is massive and we’re looking forward to it. It will be a massive occasion at Thomond Park and hopefully we can end the season with two trophies in the cabinet. This is us paying our fans back and we have a chance to go on and pick up a piece of silverware.”

Munster needed just one point to secure the home play-off semi-final and three points to warrant a top-spot finish and despite coming up against a Scarlets side in their own battle to make the play-offs, McGahan’s decision paid off as Munster scrapped to a hard-fought win.

Munster started well in a frantic opening period but should have been behind when George North knocked on with the try-line at his mercy.

But McGahan’s side fought back and Mafi produced some magic to dance past several defenders before being hauled down short of the line. But again Munster were their own worst enemy as they were penalised at the breakdown.

Priestland nudged the hosts into the lead on 18 minutes and they continued to press McGahan’s men but were unable to turn pressure into points. Warwick and Danny Barnes provided some hope on the counter attack and Munster got their reward on 39 minutes when the full-back equalised. Warwick was at it again moments later, slotting his second penalty to hand Munster a 6-3 lead at the interval.

Priestland narrowly missed with a long-range penalty on 43 minutes but made no mistake on 52 to once again draw level.

Then with just 12 minutes to go Zebo grabbed the match-winning try. Scarlets centre King was caught in possession and lost the ball with Zebo on hand to hack forward and touch-down. Warwick converted from the left to open up a seven-point lead. In a frantic finale, Munster dogged defence held on for the crucial victory.

Leamy admitted: “What impressed me most was our doggedness and passion.”

Scorers for Scarlets: R Priestland 2 pens.

Scorers for Munster: S Zebo try; P Warwick con, 2 pens.

SCARLETS: M Stoddart; G North, R King, G Maule (S Williams, 73), S Lamont (S Jones, 63); R Priestland, T Knoyle (G Davies, 73); I Thomas (R Jones, 73), M Rees (E Phillips, 73), R Thomas (S Gardiner, 75), L Reed, J Turnbull (A Shingler,73), R McCusker, J Edwards, D Lyons.

MUNSTER: P Warwick; S Zebo, J Murphy (S Deasy, 47), L Mafi, D Barnes; D Cusack (S Tuitupou, 40), P Stringer (D Williams, 73); M Horan (D Hurley, 69), M Sherry (D Fogarty, 58, S Archer (J Hayes, 58); D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, T O’Donnell, N Ronan (A Quinlan, 60), D Leamy.

Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU).