Munster held out against a brave Saracens side by 18-16 to win through to their fourth European Cup final at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.
The Irish province will now return to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium to play three-time champions Toulouse on May 24.
Saracens, in their first European Cup semi-final, opened the scoring with a spectacular length of the field try in the fifth minute.
Full-back Richard Haughton ran the ball out of defense from near his own line before finding left wing Kameli Ratuvou, who chipped on.
The ball was regathered by Saracens center Adam Powell, who sprinted away before cutting inside and was tackled just short of the line by All Black wing Doug Howlett.
However, when the ball was recycled, Fiji flyer Ratuvou went over from close range to complete a breathtaking 100m score.
Saracens stand-off Glen Jackson landed the simple conversion and the underdogs were 7-0 up.
Munster stormed back and O’Gara, after kicking a penalty, put the Irish giants into the lead.
From a lineout, the ball was moved cross-field and O’Gara crashed over for a 25th minute try.
Seconds before halftime, they extended the lead when, after a diagonal break by Howlett and a quick tap penalty, flanker Alan Quinlan burst clear for a try under the posts.
This time O’Gara converted and Munster were 15-7 ahead.
Saracens started the second half strongly and saw New Zealander Jackson kick a penalty that reduced Munster’s lead.
But, when Munster center Rua Tipoki was sin-binned for killing the ball, Jackson’s second penalty meant the Londoners were just two points behind, only to have prop Nick Lloyd sin-binned.
Saracens were reduced to 13 men after replacement prop Census Johnston was yellow-carded and an O’Gara penalty put Munster 18-13 ahead, before Jackson pegged them back to set up a grandstand finish with nine minutes left to play.
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