Ruddock's Lansdowne on the double

It looked like the holders were on course for back-to-back titles when their veteran second row Brian Hayes reached for the line in the 58th minute.

In true champion style, Lansdowne took this blow on the chin and came back swinging three minutes later through their front row forwards Peter Dooley and Iain Prendiville for hooker Tyrone Moran to crash to the whitewash.

It meant Mike Ruddock's men completed the League and Cup double by making their chief rivals their victims in both competitions.

"On balance, when you look at our record over the course of the season and the effort we put in today against a tremendous Cork Con team, we just got over the line and we deserved it," said the coach.

Munster way off the mark despite win

Munster looked barely better than mediocre in accounting for Edinburgh, 20-16, in the PRO14 League quarter-final at Thomond Park on Saturday.

They will have to improve beyond all recognition to put it up to Leinster at the RDS on Saturday week, based on what was a sub-standard performance.

"If we're to stand a chance of beating them, we'll need to be at our very, very best," admitted Munster coach, Johann van Graan.

In the meantime, Leo Cullen's charges will have to go through the challenge posed by Racing 92 in Bilbao.

PRO14 LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS

Glasgow v Scarlets (Fri, 18th May, Scotstoun, KO7.45pm)

Leinster v Munster (Sat, 19th May, RDS, KO3.15pm)

PRO14 LEAGUE FINAL

Leinster/Munster v Glasgow /Scarlets (Sat, 26th May, Aviva, KO6.30pm)