Leicester 16 - 19 Leinster: Heineken Cup remains in Ireland

Published on Saturday 23 May 2009 20:30

Leinster rallied to win the Heineken Cup for the first time Saturday after Johnny Sexton kicked a long-range penalty to clinch a 19-16 victory over Leicester.

The first-time finalists fought back after falling behind 16-9 shortly after halftime at neutral Murrayfield.

Leinster's 14-year wait to win European club rugby's top prize ended with Sexton's second successful penalty of the match in the 70th minute, after Leicester infringed at the breakdown 30 meters from goal.

"It's been some pretty tough times over the last couple of years. We've had some disappointing days," Leinster captain Leo Cullen said. "When you've had a bit of hurt in the past, when you get the win it makes it that little bit sweeter.

"The boys showed great spirit coming back into it. It was a great win."

Ben Woods' try and two penalties from Julien Dupuy had put two-time champion Leicester ahead, but Jamie Heaslip's score helped level the match at 16-16.

Brian O'Driscoll opened the scoring for Leinster when he landed a drop goal in the 7th. The Tigers immediately responded through Dupuy's first penalty, but Sexton hit back by landed a drop-goal from inside his own half in the 24th.

The 23-year-old flyhalf was only playing because of an injury to Felipe Contepomi.

Just before the break, Leicester's most sustained spell of possession saw Ben Woods burst clear and retain enough momentum to touch down and Dupuy converted.

Leicester stretched its lead to seven points shortly after the break when Cian Healy infringed and Dupuy kicked another penalty.

But Leinster mounted the comeback that capped a glorious year for Irish rugby. The national team won the Six Nations title in March and captured its first Grand Slam since 1948, while Munster triumphed in the Magners League.

O'Driscoll, the Leinster center, gave British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan a scare when he appeared to sustain a shoulder injury, but he said he will not miss the South Africa tour, which begins next week.

"I've been carrying it for a while," O'Driscoll said. "I'll be in a little bit of cotton wool for a while but then it'll be sorted."