Leinster Win Is Not Enough

Leinster ran in four converted tries, with captain Brian O’Driscoll twice off the mark, in a comprehensive win over Edinburgh but it was not enough as Ulster lay claim to the Celtic League crown.

…An emotional Eric Miller reflects on what might have been after his final game in a Leinster shirt…

Leinster ran in four converted tries, with captain Brian O’Driscoll twice getting off the mark, in a comprehensive win over Edinburgh but it was not enough as Ulster lay claim to the Celtic League crown.

CELTIC LEAGUE: Friday, May 26

EDINBURGH GUNNERS 8 LEINSTER 31, Murrayfield (Att: 2,364)

Scorers: Edinburgh: Try: Scott Murray; Pen: Ander Monro

Leinster: Tries: Brian O’Driscoll 2, Shane Horgan, Felipe Contepomi; Cons: Contepomi 4; Pen: Contepomi

TIME LINE: 14 minutes – Leinster yellow card: Will Green; 15 mins – Edinburgh penalty: Ander Monro – 3-0; 16 mins – Leinster try: Brian O’Driscoll – 3-5; conversion: Felipe Contepomi – 3-7; 22 mins – Leinster try: Brian O’Driscoll – 3-12; conversion: Felipe Contepomi – 3-14; 36 mins – Edinburgh try: Scott Murray – 8-14; conversion: missed by Ander Monro; Half-time – Edinburgh 8 Leinster 14; 46 mins – Leinster try: Shane Horgan – 8-19; conversion: Felipe Contepomi – 8-21; 52 mins – Leinster try: Felipe Contepomi – 8-26; conversion: Felipe Contepomi – 8-28; 58 mins – Leinster penalty: Felipe Contepomi – 8-31; 65 mins – Edinburgh yellow card: Allan Jacobsen; Leinster yellow card: Adam Byrnes; Full-time – Edinburgh 8 Leinster 31

EDINBURGH: Francisco Leonelli; Mike Pyke, Phil Godman, Matt Dey, Nic De Luca; Ander Monro, Rory Lawson (capt); Allan Jacobsen, Andrew Kelly, Alasdair Dickinson, Fergus Pringle, Scott Murray, Matt Mustchin, Alasdair Strokosch, David Callam.

Replacements used: Alan MacDonald for Pringle (5-20 mins), Greig Laidlaw for Lawson (48), Ben Cairns for Dey (53), Craig Smith for Dickinsonm Ross Rennie for Murray, Simon Webster for De Luca (all 54), Dougie Hall for Kelly (59), Alasdair Dickinson for Callam (68), Alan McDonald for Monro (69), David Callam for Jacobsen (76).

LEINSTER: Girvan Dempsey; Shane Horgan, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Gordon D’Arcy, Denis Hickie; Felipe Contepomi, Guy Easterby; Reggie Corrigan, Bernard Jackman, Will Green, Adam Byrnes, Malcolm O’Kelly, Niall Ronan, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements used: Ronan McCormack for Ronan (24-26 mins), Rob Kearney for Hickie (59), Ronan McCormack for Corrigan (62), Kieran Lewis for D’Arcy (68), Eric Miller for Ronan (69), Brian O’Riordan for Easterby (70), David Blaney for Jackman (72), Devin Toner for Byrnes (75).

Sin Bin: W Green (Leinster) (14 mins), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), A Byrnes (Leinster) (both 65)

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)