Ospreys hung on to win the Celtic League title here on Saturday, the Welsh region beating Irish province Leinster 17-12 in a nail-biting game.
First-half tries from Tommy Bowe and man-of-the-match Lee Byrne did the damage as the Welsh deservedly ended the season with silverware, becoming the first side to win the Celtic League three times.
It was a frustrating way for Michael Cheika to end his coaching tenure at Leinster, and in an error-strewn display the home side could only muster four penalty goals from Jonathan Sexton.
Sexton's opposite number Dan Biggar converted the two tries for a 14-3 half-time lead and landed a second-half penalty as the Welsh region completed a clean sweep of away victories over Irish sides this season.
Ospreys came to Dublin hoping to end a six-match losing run against Leinster, and head coach Sean Holley put his faith in the team that suffocated Glasgow Warriors into submission in the semi-final.
Leinster made one enforced change to the side that accounted for Munster last time out, with Springbok prop CJ van der Linde replacing stomach bug victim Cian Healy.
Within sight of the Leinster 22, a flat delivery from Biggar sent Andrew Bishop bursting past Gordon D'Arcy and faced by Rob Kearney, the centre's well-timed pass to the left put Bowe charging over for a 19th minute opener.
Biggar converted but Sexton quickly replied by firing over from the 10-metre line, following a high tackle by Byrne on his opposite number Kearney.
But Ospreys continued to look the more dangerous with ball in hand and six minutes before the break, they clinically countered from halfway to tee up Byrne for a great score.
Biggar floated a long pass out to the right where James Hook took it on before popping it back inside for his full-back to thunder away from D'Arcy's grasp and evade a last-gasp tackle from Jamie Heaslip on his way to the try-line.
Biggar's successful conversion pushed the visitors into a deserved 14-3 lead, reduced by a long-range penalty by Sexton in the second half.
A Leinster offside allowed Biggar restore his side's advantage to 11 points and handling errors blighted the home side's play as they became increasingly desperate in a flooded midfield.
Ospreys were content to soak up the pressure, with Hook and Byrne miscuing drop goal attempts, and Leinster finally got into a rhythm on the hour mark. D'Arcy went on a 30-metre burst and the forwards edged closer, before Sexton landed his third penalty.
Byrne was fortunate to avoid a yellow card as he caught D'Arcy around the neck as the Leinster centre broke the line once again. Sexton converted the resulting penalty, with nine minutes to go, and the momentum was with Cheika's side.
However, Ospreys were able to keep them at arm's length and Sexton's failure to convert a fifth penalty in the dying minutes summed up the hosts' night.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
