Munster book final spot

O'Gara: Kicked eight points

Munster will meet Irish rivals Leinster to decide the Magners League title after claiming an 18-11 victory in their play-off semi-final with the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

The hosts dominated the first half and took an 8-3 lead into the break after Danny Barnes' first senior try for the Irish side.

Barnes then crossed again to extend the lead in the second-half, while a late try from Richard Fussell made the scoreline respectable for the defending champions.

The result ends the Ospreys' hopes of becoming the first team to win two straight titles, as the regular season table-toppers progressed to the final in Limerick on May 28.

The hosts, who had already beaten their opponents three times this season, showed their intent early on and it took a well-timed tackle from Fussell to stop Keith Earls close to the try-line.

Ronan O'Gara kicked the opening points when Paul James was penalised for a scrum infringement and back-chat brought an inviting penalty kick even closer to the posts.

Gain-line

Munster were having no problems getting over the gain-line and kept the visitors on the defensive, but the fast-breaking Lifeimi Mafi chose the wrong option when choosing to pass with the line in sight.

O'Gara kicked a right-sided penalty against a post and while the one-way traffic continued, with Felix Jones, Barnes and Doug Howlett benefitting from the forwards' hard work, Munster's attacks lacked a cutting edge.

But the pressure was finally rewarded in the 32nd minute when a neat series of passes between Earls, Howlett and Jones allowed Barnes to race over the line to the right of the posts. O'Gara could not add the extras.

A James surge then drew a penalty for the Ospreys, which Dan Biggar threaded through the posts from long range to make it 8-3.

It was a much-needed score for the Welsh outfit, who had lost centre James Hook to a shoulder injury.

They were forced to hang on again just before half-time, though, as a combination of Biggar, Rhys Webb and Ryan Jones held up David Wallace over the line.

Front foot

Munster were on the front foot again when the second half began, with O'Gara off target with a penalty before the Ospreys were reduced to 14 men.

Replacement hooker Richard Hibbard was shown the yellow card for an illegal entry at a ruck and O'Gara this time added the three points to Munster's tally.

Biggar thumped over his second penalty when Damien Varley was penalised for a ruck offence, but Munster were to land the decisive blow in the form of Barnes' second try.

The 21-year-old charged down Fussell's attempted clearance and picked up the bouncing ball to sprint in behind the posts, with O'Gara's conversion giving the home side some breathing space at 18-6.

The Ospreys began to threaten as the clock wound down and they scored in the 79th minute when Biggar's grubber kick was dotted down by Fussell in the left corner.

But despite a lengthy spell of possession in injury time, it was too little, too late.