RaboDirect PRO12: Leinster prove too strong for Glasgow Warriors

The celebrations begin for PRO12 champions Leinster

Leinster scored four tries in all but had to overcome the early departure of Brian O'Driscoll as they became the first team to retain the championship.

A suspected knee injury forced O'Driscoll off barely eight minutes into his 186th and final appearance for Leinster, but the retiring centre still managed to end his provincial career with silverware.

First-time finalists Glasgow were far from overawed at the RDS, four finely-struck penalties from Finn Russell meaning they were only 14-12 behind at half-time.

Springbok Zane Kirchner crossed for Leinster's opening try in the 16th minute and his pass sent Shane Jennings through for the second late in the first half.

The defending champions strangled the life out of Glasgow as Jimmy Gopperth made it 20-12 by the 66th minute and the final gloss was added by late tries from Kirchner and Gordon D'Arcy.

Leinster's long-serving captain Leo Cullen, who is moving upstairs as their new forwards coach, also came off the bench to help the Blues make it seven major trophy wins in as many years.

Glasgow were bidding to become the first Scottish winners of the PRO12 and unsettled the hosts straight away, their young fly-half Russell blocking down Gopperth in the first minute.

The 22-year-old landed a long range penalty soon after and Leinster emerged pointless from their first visit to the Scots' 22, knocking on after turning down a kickable three-pointer.

Worse followed for Matt O'Connor's men when O'Driscoll hobbled off injured with semi-final hero Ian Madigan replacing him.

Russell then punished Mike McCarthy's high tackle with a superb strike from the left wing that went over off the right hand post.

But Leinster's patience was rewarded on the quarter hour mark, building pressure through 20-plus phases before Rob Kearney released winger Kirchner to finish in the left corner. Gopperth nailed the conversion for a 7-6 advantage.

The high pace continued into the second quarter with both defences tested in the sun-kissed conditions.

Half-breaks from Chris Cusiter and Peter Horne saw Glasgow exert more controland Russell's third penalty came after an eye-catching burst from big Fijian Leone Nakarawa.

Breezed through

Tellingly, Kirchner turned creator in the 38th minute as he breezed through a midfield gap and Jennings was on his shoulder to run in a converted try from 25 metres out.

There was still time for Russell to make it a two-point game, drilling home a late penalty from just inside the Leinster half.

The hosts were denied a third try on the resumption, referee Nigel Owens ruling that Cian Healy had been tackled before getting up to reach for the try-line.

Gopperth hit an upright with a penalty attempt from distance and Glasgow showed their offloading ability as replacement Niko Matawalu sparked their attack into life.

As bodies tired, Matawalu crucially lost the ball forward as he lunged for the Leinster line and a Gopperth-inspired counter almost led to Madigan scoring from his own kick through.

A powerful close-in scrum allowed Gopperth stretch Leinster's lead to 17-12 and their greater experience began to tell as Gopperth widened the margin to eight points, with Nakarawa infringing at a ruck.

Glasgow's brave challenge was petering out as Gopperth missed a drop goal and a thundering charge from man-of-the-match Sean Cronin should have garnered a try.

The victory was duly wrapped up by Kirchner's second touchdown in the 74th minute, a crisp passing move allowing D'Arcy to break free and send the South African over.

The roles were reversed just two minutes later as Leinster profited from turnover ball and Kirchner set up the tireless D'Arcy to go over in the same left corner.