CROKE OF GENIUS

LEINSTER'S love affair with Croke Park continued as they blew the Bulls away at GAA HQ to lift silverware for the first time in four seasons last evening.

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

Leo Cullen's side were desperate to salvage their year after their latest Champions Cup heartbreak and shrugging off the late withdrawal of Jamison Gibson-Park - they did so with a display packed with power and panache, particularly in the first half hour.

It was sweet revenge for last year's semi-final loss to the same opponents in Pretoria and the perfect send-off for the 12 Leinster players who are joining Andy Farrell's Lions, while the Bulls were left to lick their wounds.

After winning their first-ever game on Jones's Road in 2009 - that famous Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Munster - Leinster returned for last year's Champions Cup semi-final defeat of Northampton, then for a packed-out early season URC win over Munster in October and the Champions Cup last 16 dismissal of Harlequins.

This URC final was their fifth visit to the iconic venue and they claimed another win on the northside as All Black great Jordie Barrett signed off on his brief but influential time at the province with a fabulous try, underlining the folly of not selecting him from the start against Northampton in that last four loss in Europe.

That five-pointer was Leinster's second of the day, in between the opening score by skipper Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier’s close-range effort.