by Brendan Cole
FULL TIME - MUNSTER 16-13 TOULOUSE
Click here for the Heineken Cup Final in pictures.
80 mins O'Gara taps and gives it to O'Connell - the ball dies in the ruck and Owens blows his whistle - MUNSTER'S SECOND HEINEKEN CUP IS SECURED!!!!!!!
79 mins Lamboley takes and Toulouse drive - Sowerby knocks on, Wallace picks up and O'Connell drives! Must be Munster's Cup now!!!!! Penalty Munster with 30 seconds to go!
78 mins Penalty Toulouse - O'Callaghan pinged - and Toulouse kick it very well to past half-way. Huge line-out...
77 mins Munster are calm to a man, and Toulouse simply can't get at them. Anthony Foley may not be on the field, but this pack has learned from a master and are working it tight. This tactic has gone wrong before (Cardiff in the Magner's League anyone?) but with just over 2 minutes on the clock they are grinding away.
75 mins Munster again catch a half-back and turn him over - it's Kelleher this time - and Munster ball on the '22. They drive it in close again, and are in the driving seat. O'Gara again may think about the drop but they could possibly close it out from here with drives...
74 mins Toulouse win the line-out and drive a maul 15 yards before passing; Elissalde is caught well behind the gainline and it's turnover ball by Wallace. Quinlan spins it and Mafi is almost through but he knocks on! Again, within inches of the trophy!
73 mins Toulouse scrum on their own line - Ahota-E'Iloa is on for Donguy - Elissalde doesn't make touch and Hurley catches and feeds Hurley who gives it to Dowling. Munster are on the '22 and in possession but Wallace is driven back. Leamy drives and they are going forward again but he gets pinged for holding on and Jauzion knocks it to half-way.
71 mins Buckley's first scrum and with Poux in it's a different contest - Munster may be under a little pressure but they win a scrappy one and Leamy picks it up. Again, they start to drive in close through Flannery, Buckley, O'Connell and Wallace, who makes ten yards from nothing. Is the drop goal on? O'Gara is in the pocket and Quinlan takes it into the centre. Munster go wide and the drop is no longer on - but they are five out now but Tipoki makes a half-break and then knocks on when trying to offload - so close to a match winning score!
69 mins Wallace, Leamy, Flannery, Buckley and O'Connell all drive it before Munster go wide to Mafi - a quick ten yards is gained and Munster are on the '22 and in the middle of the pitch. Toulouse get a hand in on an pass but it's a knock on and Munster's put in to a scrum.
66 mins O'Gara is charged down again but Mafi gathers and sets it up and O'Gara makes no mistake second time. Line-out on half-way. The out-half claims an overthrown line-out and it's Munster ball on half-way - again, they begin to drive it close in.
Munster 16-13 (O'Gara penalty)
65 mins Munster win the line-out and start spreading it themselves - moving Touluose from touchline to touchline before forcing a penalty for a Pelous infringement on the deck (not rolling away).
O'Gara lines up a penalty shot from on the '22 and near straight in front and strikes in cleanly and through the posts.
63 mins O'Callaghan wins the line-out and Munster drive securely despite pressure. O'Leary's kick is cuaght by Heymans and again they run it back and are on the '22 and suddenly within 5 after the back three run again cross kick is poor and caught by Horan - over his head - for another '22. Quinlan's effort at a sly one ends up being a penalty for obstruction and O'Gara thumps it in the Toulouse half.
61 mins Toulouse win the re-start and up and under and Jauzion beats Hurley in the air and are on the '22 with the ball in hand. Elissalde lines up a drop goal but his dummy isn't bought and O'Callaghan grabs the ball and player and wraps him - end result is a Munster line-out. Lamboley and Mill-Chlusky are in as Toulouse empty the bench.
60 mins Elissalde knocks it through and Howlett scrambles and sets it up for O'Gara to clear - again, Toulouse have cut off the clearance kick but Heymans' drop-goal effort falls short and Hurley dots down for a '22.
59 mins Munster lose that line-out but a chip doesn't work and Munster are running at Toulouse on half-way. O'Leary kicks in behind - Heymans again takes a sharp lineout and Kunavore clears to half-way off his pass. Another great play by Heymans.
58 mins Munster are hammering at Toulouse with Horan and O'Callaghan to the fore and are at the '22 but Dowling's chip goes straight to Donguy and they clear to half-way through Elissalde. Mick O'Driscoll is a blood sub for O'Connell. Nyanga is also in.
56 mins Toulouse gather the kick and clear to half-way - Jean-Baptise Poux comes in - another closing gaps free-kick to Munster and Leamy drives it up. Munster drive around half-way.
Paul O'Connell is a blood injury and someone may have to come in.
Munster 13-13 Toulouse (Elissalde conversion)
55 mins Elissalde knocks over the conversion.
Munster 13-11 Toulouse (Donguy try)
54 mins Flannery knocks on the re-start and Toulouse scrum and win, before up and undering again. Dowling gathers after Jauzion knocks on - Hurley again beaten in the air. Scrum Munster after the ruck ball became unplayable. Leamy to O'Leary again and he knocks it downfield. Heymans takes it quick and burns down the touchline, kicking twice before Jauzion got a third touch with a boot and put it into the goal area where Donguy dots it down - brilliant try and Toulouse are right back in it!
Munster 13-6 Toulouse (O'Gara penalty)
50 mins O'Gara lines up the penalty and nails it.
Yellow card to Fabien Pelous
50 mins Here comes the linesman, who tells the ref Pelous has kicked a Munster player. The linesman strongly recommends a yellow and Nigel Owens gives it! Pelous kicked Quinlan in the backside - interesting that they were exchanging words on the way off at half-time.
Toulouse down to 14.
50 mins Tipoki bangs it up in midfield, making yards through his power and aggression. Munster pop it in close and run a drive series. Ten phases and counting as the Munster fans start singing again and Tipoki breaks through and passes to Howlett who runs it in brilliantly but it is brought back for a forward pass between Tipoki and Howlett! So close to a huge score, but it's a Toulouse scrum.
47 mins Munster ball on half-way and it's overthrown but Wallace takes and is nailed. They keep the ball and O'Gara up and unders to Heymans who clears to near half-way.
46 mins Toulouse charge it up in midfield and work it wide - the options are there and it's very lateral from them - Munster turn it over in the ruck to complete a brilliant spell - on the deck, O'Callaghan and David Wallace are the heroes this time.
44 mins O'Connell's second big play in two minutes as he nicks the lineout! O'Gara kicks it downfield again and it's Toulouse ball on half-way.
43 mins Toulouse catch at the tail and drive but O'Connell rips it off them! Brilliant play. O'Gara is charged down but Dowling tidies it up and Munster clear through O'Leary this time.
42 mins Munster spin it in midfield but lose it and Toulouse kick through. Hurley dawdles and slips and only makes 10 metres from his own line. Nervy final so far from him and he needs to settle.
41 mins O'Gara kicks off and Toulouse knock on on their own '22 - Bouilhou caught it well but the maul ended up a bit of a mess. Kelleher grabs Leamy and Munster lose ground off the back, but they keep the ball and O'Gara's cross kick after a moment of indecision is caught by Donguy - it could have been dangerous for Munster but he is tackled by Howlett and Elissalde kicks to half-way.
HALF TIME
Munster 10-6 Toulouse (Elissalde penalty)
40+2 mins Elissalde has a shot from just inside the Munster half - big moment - 49 metres and he knocks it over easily.
40 mins O'Leary slides one down the touchline - safe, but good distance gained and Toulouse are well in their own half. Toulouse run the ball and make it to half-way - Dowling makes a good hit at the end of the line and Mafi puts in a a dump on a big forward - Toulouse are making ground though and get a penalty on half-way; a chance to close the gap.
39 mins Toulouse spread it to Donguy and Howlett hits him hard and puts him into touch; Munster win the line-out and maul again before O'Leary kicks a big one downfield. Donguy takes it quick and Heymans looks dangerous - swerving through - before knocking on the attempted offload. Good tackle by Donncha O'Callaghan and it's a scrum to Munster.
37 mins Toulouse win the re-start and work some offloads, getting to near the Munster '22. Munster are making their hits though, and it's now slow ball for the French team.
Munster 10-3 Toulouse (O'Gara penalty)
36 mins O'Gara lines it up and knocks it over - 10 points very quickly and O'Connell Street is hopping again!
35 mins Munster win the line-out and O'Leary has a yard of space and goes forward. It's penalty Munster well within range and straight in front - pulling a maul down is the call. Toulouse line-out looks dodgy for the second time and the 'Fields' rings out again.
34 mins O'Gara clears the re-start and this time, there's no quick one from Toulouse. Line-out on half-way.
Munster 7-3 Toulouse (O'Gara conversion)
33 mins O'Gara knocks over the easy kick.
Munster 5-3 Toulouse (Leamy try)
32 mins Leamy drives at Elissalde who comes up to hit; ruck on the five and Munster drive the ball forward - again they are within inches, this time through Paul O'Connell!
And Leamy gets his try!!!!!!!!! Drives over a short one and there's no doubt this time - that was brilliant by Munster, they were relentless there and it's 5-3 with the conversion to come.
30 mins Munster hammer in again and force a scrum five to them by getting Kelleher to dot down over his own line!
30 mins They've given a knock on but it was very close. Scrum to Toulouse, but plenty of hope for Munster. Munster hammer into the next scrum and Tolouse collapse.
30 mins Wallace drives and does well to stop Kelleher from turning it over. Within inches now, and Leamy goes through the middle and dots down! Is it a good touchdown though? It's bobbling around but he does get some form of pressure on it - the Munster fans roar the replays home...
29 mins Howlett and Hurley burst through to within a yard! It's a scrum to Munster when the breakdown gets messy; Munster have turned the momentum though, and have a great chance here...
28 mins Knock on by Heymans off a chip through hands a scrum to Munster - not his first shaky moment - and it's a scrum to Munster just over 10 yards from the line.
27 mins The cameras cut to O'Connell Street in Limerick, getting a huge cheer in Cardiff and Limerick.
Munster spread it off the top, and Mafi gets a run on; Munster are within ten and driving up the middle. Howlett slips though, and Toulouse reset. Munster set up a drive thought O'Connnell, but MUnster are going backwards when they spread it.
Horan becomes the latest man to be drilled in the middle of the pitch, but Munster still have the ball. It's slow though.
25 mins Munster win the line-out and, lined up a little deeper, spread it too Mafi, but he's tackled. O'Gara then kicks straight down the middle and Heymans scrambles but clears well in the end - Munster lineout just in front of their '22.
Wallace is the option for Munster and they work a dynamic maul. Forcing Toulouse backwards before' Flannery breaks off the back and it's Toulouse' turn to be given offside (Albacete). Flannery is down though.
Looking ahead, the maul, and perhaps Donguy, may be areas Munster can target.
Flannery has had a boot in the head from one of his own players and needs strapping up. O'Gara, meanwhile, boots his team down to the Toulouse '22. Big chance to get some points.
23 mins Free-kick for closing gaps and Munster run it - Wallace is hit hard in midfield by Dusautoir and Tipoki has a dart off the next ruck but doesn't get far.
Toulouse knock on in the centre of the field having rucked well, and it's a Munster scrum. They work an 8-9 and O'Leary kicks - not that well - Donguy fumbles but doesn't knock on and after tackling, Munster are given offside at the breakdown. Toulouse kick to near half-way through Jauzion.
20 mins Toulouse use the centre Kunavore off the scrum but it doesn't work out and they knock on. Leamy picks and goes and O'Leary's box kick is good if a little long. Flannery tackles Heymans and Toulouse quickly shift it to the far side through Jauzion and Medard kicks through. Munster gather and set it up again on their '22. O'Gara kicks this time and makes touch but Toulouse take it quickly - Heymans kicks straight to touch however, and it's Munster ball on half-way; a rare error from Toulouse.
17 mins Line-out is old school French to the tail and feeding Kelleher on the run around. Munster make their tackle and it's Toulouse ball in the middle of the field. Up and under again and Munster knock on. Hurley is being targetted and it's paying dividends for Toulouse. Scrum to Toulouse.
16 mins Toulouse maul the lineout but don't get too far; the spin it wide and Howlett charges up out wide but misses a tackle and Toulouse are momentarily in behind. Toulouse drop the ball in the middle though and Jauzion kicks it up and under again. Hurley gathers and feeds Quinlan. Munster ball on half-way; Donguy collects a poor O'Gara kick and after an exchange with Heymans, he chips downfield and force Munster to knock the ball into touch.
14 mins Munster win the line-out and O'Leary clears - Toulouse also win the line-out and after working the ball, Elissalde has another shot at a drop but misses this one. They knock on the '22 restart and it's Munster ball in the middle. They win the scrum and O'Gara cross-kicks to Howlett who feeds Hurley. Munster spread it across the field and Dowling eventually falls into touch after slipping.
11 mins O'Gara kicks off deep - Toulouse recover and Elissalde thumps it back downfield. Very easy for them.
Flannery lines up the throw and O'Connell takes - it's scrappy but O'Leary recovers off the deck and O'Gara sticks up the up and under. Toulouse catch and a kick through by Jauzion is recovered. Pelous then puts in a kick and Munster are in the far corner five from their line again.
Munster 0-3 Toulouse (Elissalde drop goal)
8 mins Mafi has space for a second but with the ball in one hand gets taken down - Munster start are putting the big men up the middle but a mis-handle by O'Gara results in a scrum to Toulouse on the Toulouse '22. Kelleher nudges the ball down the right, testing Hurley who lets the ball slip underneath him, touching it, handing Toulouse the lineout. They win and drive it to past half-way where Elissalde garryowens and Jauzion takes the catch getting up over Hurley - and Elissalde knocks over a drop goal!
5 mins Elissalde knocks it just right from on the '22 and about 20 yards from the centre of the field. Missed by a whisker, but not a great strike and Munster have gotten away with a bad start. O'Gara puts up the drop and Quinlan grabs the ball, intercepting Kelleher, making 50 yards in seconds! Driving up the middle on the Toulouse '22 now!
4 mins Another penalty to Toulouse - and talking back to the ref gives another 10 yards. Five from the line, Toulouse opt for a shot at the posts as the 'Fields of Athenry' rings out around the stadium.
4 mins: The scrum is re-set and holds up second time around - Medard is put up the 9-10 channel by Elissaldwe and Toulouse are wihtin yards. Munster tackle and disrupt though and have slowed the French side...Elissalde looks at a drop goal but runs instead and Toulouse are tackled and have lost 10 yards and momentum.
1 min: Scrappy kick-off down the middle is recovered by Toulouse but then picked up by Quinlan - O'Gara kicks - poorly - and Sowerby runs it back. Dusautoir crashes up in midfield but is hit hard!
Penalty to Toulouse for a ruck infringement after a series of drives by Toulouse and Heymans hits to touch but doesn't make it - hit a Munster hand on the way into the dead ball and it's a scrum 5 in the corner. O'Leary maybe shouldn't have gone for that...
5pm: Teams enter the pitch to a huge roar - seconds away from kick-off now...
4.56pm Teams:
The late change is Gregory Lamboley for Valentin Courrent (Toulouse) - Courrent was an injury doubt in the run-up and the change means Toulouse have a 5-2 split of forwards and backs.
Options at out-half if Jean-Baptise Elissalde were to get injured are Jauzion and possibly Fritz, but it is a definite worry for them.
Munster: Hurley; Howlett, Mafi, Tipoki, Dowling; O'Gara, O'Leary; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell (capt), Quinlan, Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: Sheahan, Buckley, M O'Driscoll, Ryan, Stringer, Warwick, Earls.
Toulouse: Heymans; Medard, Kunavore, Jauzion, Donguy; Elissalde, Kelleher; Human, Servat, Perugini, Pelous (capt), Albacete, Bouilhou, Dusautoir, Sowerby.
Replacements: Basualdo, Poux, Millo-Chluski, Nyanga, Fritz, Ahotaeiloa, LAMBOLEY
Referee: Nigel Owens
4.54pm As usual these days, it doesn't look like there's much chance of the 5pm kick-off time being met. The stadium is a sea of red and there is hardly and empty seat int he house at this stage.
4.45pm Welcome to the RTÉ.ie Heineken Cup Final matchtracker - it's 15 minutes from kick-off, and the teams are still running through their warm-ups; Toulouse are working through some gentle passing drills in one corner, while Munster are running in lines of six and seven from the goal-posts to the '22 down the far end and also doing some light physical work.
Click here to listen to live RTÉ Commentary with Michael Corcoran and Donal Lenihan.
Click here to view a selection of images from the build-up to today's final.
Click here for the Munster v Toulouse match preview.
