Leinster capped an outstanding year for Irish rugby by claiming a first Heineken Cup with a 19-16 win over English champion Leicester at Murrayfield on Saturday. Stand-in flyhalf Jonny Sexton proved the difference as he showed no nerves in slotting over a 30-meter penalty with 10 minutes remaining to split the two evenly matches teams. Leinster's success, the third Irish province to lift the trophy after Ulster and Munster, followed a first grand slam for Ireland in 61 years in March and the selection of a national record 14 players in the original British & Irish Lions squad. The result was tough on Leicester who was aiming for a record equalling third triumph in the competition and had recovered after a surprisingly sluggish start to lead by seven points in the second half. “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.” 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.
