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May 24 down the years
Munster crowned champions of Europe again
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Munster skipper Paul O'Connell celebrates with the Heineken Cup on this day in 2008
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2008 A first-half Denis Leamy try and two penalties from Ronan O'Gara were just enough for Munster to nudge a 16-13 victory. Munster won their second European title in three seasons to give the outgoing director of rugby Declan Kidney a dream send-off before he went on to become the head coach of the Ireland later on that year. They had been given a scare in the second half by a try from Yves Donguy, set up by a moment of brilliance from France winger Cedric Heymans, but were cheered to glory by a fervent collection of their famous red army.
2003 Perpignan failed to recover from a 19-0 interval deficit after Toulouse wing Vincent Clerc scored an immaculately-worked try and fly-half Yann Delaigue kicked 14 points. Delaigue administered the final blow with his fifth successful penalty in the final minute of normal time, following sustained Perpignan pressure. Perpignan gave it everything though, with their Australian fly-half Manny Edmonds booting four penalties and wing Pascal Bomati grabbing a last-gasp try, but Toulouse did enough during the opening period when they had a strong breeze behind them.
2003 As expected, the contest was an extremely tight affair and after setting the standard in attack all season it was the Blues defence that proved a match winner. The Blues looked to have the game secure when flanker Daniel Braid put his side ahead 21-10 in the 67th minute. But the defending champions attacked relentlessly in a thrilling final 10 minutes. Daniel Carter, Leon MacDonald and Chris Jack were either stopped on the line or were just centimetres short before winger Caleb Ralph finally found a way through in the 76th minute to reduce the lead to 21-17.
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