O'Connell Steet in Limerick

What a day for Munster - finally Victory in the Heineken Cup.

Watching04 Originally uploaded by _CitizenKane_.

Biarritz Olympique 19-23 Munster Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Att: 74,534 Saturday 20th May 2006, 15:00.

For those who couldn't go - O'Connell Street in Limerick had a big screen and thousands of people. Sereli Bobo had given Biarritz the perfect start with a converted try after two minutes. Seven down. But in the seventh minute we had a penalty from Ronan O'Gara and in teh seventeenth minute a try from Trevor Halstead converted by RoG. 5 minutes later Munster were penalised in the ruck and no mistake from Yachvili, and were were back to 10 all. There followed some strong Biarritz pressure but the Munster defence held. Payne eventually clears the ball for Munster, and with Munster in possession - the referee calls the defence offside. O'Gara kicks for the corner - but it's a poor kick and the throw is taken from the 22.

Then comes the moment of magic. Stringer saw opposite number Yachvili out of position and left Serge Betsen grasping air as he rounded the blindside of the scrum untouched to score. O’Gara’s conversion put Munster 17-10 ahead at half time. A penalty early in the second half settles Munster.

However Yachvili gets 3 penalty opportunities. He converts each - as you would expect. With ten minutes left its 20 - 19 to Munster. Both sides look nervous. But Biarritz makes the mistake and Munster have a penalty. Ronan kicks and its 23-19. The last 3 minutes see Biarritz pressure - but in the end Ronan O’Gara kicks the ball out of play and the Millenium Stadium and O'Connell Street erupts... Ronan has had kicked a perfect five out five to clinch an historic win.

Heartbreaking defeats in the finals of 2000 and 2002 had upped the stakes for Munster but it was a case of third time lucky after producing the performance of a lifetime.