Leinster defeated Connacht 21-9 at the Sportsground this afternoon as tries either side of half time secured their win.
Connacht played some of the best rugby of their Celtic League campaign in the first half and were more than worthy of their 9-3 lead after a half hour.
Two penalties and a drop goal from David Slemen had given them the six point lead and Connacht's annihilation of the Leinster scrum and dominance in the lineout had them in control.
However, Connacht conceded 18 points in a ten minute spell either side of half-time that sealed their fate and killed the game as a contest.
Contepomi's penalty on 40 minutes narrowed the gap to three and from the kick-off Shane Horgan broke from his 22 and ran the length of the pitch to set up James Heaslip for the opening try.
Seven minutes after half time, following another Contepomi penalty, Leinster produced one of the few good moves of the game from a scrum and sent Girvan Dempsey over in the corner for the final score of the match.
Connacht had one good chance on 65 minutes when they bombarded the Leinster line with a series of half breaks but a stamping offence ended the attack and any hope of a comeback.
Connacht continue to be frustrated in the Celtic League and will be anxious to re-discover their good European form next week in the first of two pivotal games against Worcester.
Connacht: Matt Mostyn, John Hearty, Gavin Williams, Andrew Mailei, Conor McPhillips, David Slemen, Chris Keane; Ray Hogan, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop, Christian Short, Andre Farley, John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, Colm Rigney.
Replacements: Paul Warwick for David Slemen 60 mins; David Gannon for Short, Tom Tierney for Keane 70 mins; Michael Swift for Lacey 76 mins; Ted Robinson for Williams 76mins.
Leinster: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Kieran Lewis, Gordan D’Arcy, Rob Kearney, Felipe Contepomi (Captain), Guy Easterby; Reggie Corrigan, Bernard Jackman, Will Green, Ben Gissing, Bryce Williams, Jamie Heaslip, Keith Gleeson, Eric Miller.
Replacements: David Blaney for Jackman, Ronan McCormack for Corrigan, Cameron Jowitt for Miller, Niall Ronan for Gleeson, John Hepworth for Kearney, Eoghan Hickie for D'Arcy.
