Leinster 20 Northampton 17: As it happened

James Lowe of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side's first try

Jamison Gibson-Park of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park in Dublin

Fans outside Croke Park

Dan Sheehan of Leinster warms-up before the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park

A general view of Croke Park before the Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

thumbnail: James Lowe of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side's first try
thumbnail: Jamison Gibson-Park of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park in Dublin
thumbnail: Fans outside Croke Park
thumbnail: Dan Sheehan of Leinster warms-up before the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints at Croke Park
thumbnail: A general view of Croke Park before the Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Dylan O'Connell

Leinster take on Northampton Saints at a sold-out Croke Park for a place in the Champions Cup final.

Leo Cullen’s men will take to the field in front of over 82,000 fans at GAA headquarters aiming to seal a spot in European rugby’s big decider, having lost last year’s final to La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm.

Leinster logo
Leinster
20
:
17
Northampton logo
Northampton
Dylan O'Connell
Full-time: Harry Byrne's first touch of the ball ends the game and Leinster breathe a sigh of relief, despite reaching the Champions Cup final. 
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78 mins: James Ramm steals the ball and runs down the right wing. Northampton Saints' line-speed puts them onto the Leinster ten meter line. Caelan Doris puts in a hand and wins Leinster a penalty. Harry Byrne has replaced Ciaran Frawley on the Leinster team. 
Dylan O'Connell
76 mins: Leinster try and take the sting out of the game by passing the ball around by the Northampton Saints ten meter line. 
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75 mins: Fin Smith nails the conversion and Northampton Saints are one score away from beating, or drawing with Leinster. 
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75 mins: Try for Northampton Saints, scored by Tom Seabrook! 
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74 mins: Fin Smith tries a cross field kick and Ciaran Frawley catches this. That was a gamble by Northampton Saints as they have penalty advantage. 
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72 mins: Northampton Saints dink the ball over the top and Jamison Gibson-Park catches it by the goal-line before someone in a green jersey can catch it. The referee rules that the scrum-half knocked the ball on, and a scrum is awarded to Northampton Saints. 
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72 mins: Cian Healy comes on and becomes the player with the most appearances in the entire history of the Champions Cup. 
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70 mins: The official attendance at Croke Park today is 82,000, the biggest ever in the entire history of the Champions Cup. 
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Dylan O'Connell
68 mins: The tempo of the game has really slowed down after that push by Northampton Saints inside the Leinster 22. Leinster are very much in control, and the conversation is starting to drift to a certain date at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 
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63 mins: Northampton Saints try to force things and a rushed passage of play ends in a turnover for Leinster. Ross Byrne has kicked the ball out for a line-out by the half-way line. 
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62 mins: Ross Byrne misses the target, for the third time today. Leinster still lead 20-10. 
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61 mins: Northampton Saints are penalised for taking a player out and a penalty is awarded to Leinster. Ross Byrne is going for the three points. 
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Dylan O'Connell
60 mins: The ball falls into the hands of George Hendy and he carries it over the goal-line. Fin Smith converts and Leinster's lead is reduced to ten points. 
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58 mins: Try for Northampton Saints, scored by George Hendy! 
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57 mins: Northampton Saints are penalised for collapsing the scrum and a penalty is awarded to Leinster. 
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56 mins: Leinster get the ball back, but they knock it on. A scrum is awarded to Northampton Saints on the Leinster five meter line. 
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55 mins: Northampton Saints break from their own line-out inside their own 22 and Juarno Augustus dinks the ball forward on the right wing. Caelan Doris stands his ground to put the ball out for a line-out which comes to nothing. 
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