Last-gasp O'Gara sinks Saints
Ronan O'Gara scored a last-minute drop-goal to hand Munster a dramatic 23-21 victory over Northampton at Thomond Park
Last Updated: 12/11/11 10:06pm
Ronan O'Gara scored a last-minute drop-goal to hand Munster a dramatic 23-21 victory over Northampton in their Heineken Cup opener at Thomond Park.
Munster, vying for a third European title, looked set to start their campaign in defeat, however O'Gara kept his cool in the dying seconds following a mammoth 41 phases of play to break Northampton hearts.
Last year's runners-up, Saints must have thought they had done enough to claim a rare away win in Limerick when tries from Chris Ashton and James Downey and 11 points from the boot of Ryan Lamb put them two points ahead.
But after first-half tries from Damien Varley and Doug Howlett had kept Munster in contention, it was O'Gara who proved the difference.
Sparkling
It was an incredible finish to an absorbing battle between these two former European champions, with two tries inside the opening nine minutes lighting the touch paper.
Munster were first to strike, hooker Varley piling over on the end of a third-minute lineout maul.
Fly-half Lamb missed his first penalty attempt from far out, but Saints were back on terms when England star Ashton finished off a sparkling move from the back three.
Two penalties from Lamb nudged Northampton into a 13-7 lead, a deserved one given that the visitors looked a little quicker in thought and endeavour.
But a fine score from Howlett in first-half injury-time shot Munster ahead at the break, and O'Gara kept his side on course.
Northampton dug into their reserves of energy and began to force the issue around the hour mark, with former Munster centre Downey grabbing an unconverted try.
That was the lead score until Saints hearts were broken by O'Gara's magical match-winning kick.
