Scrum of the Earth /

Munster 16-13 Toulouse

They always say winning it the second time is always harder and Munster's soldiers used up their entire battery as they charged to Heineken Cup glory, shading a ferocious final by three points over thrice-time winners, Toulouse.

Few could argue against if ever there was a more deserving champion, after triumphantly emerging from the 'pool of death' that included Wasps, Clermont Auvergne and the Scarlets before bulldozing through Kingsholm and killing off Saracens.

The ever-reliable engine that drives the big-red-machine was in punishing mood with man-of-the-match Alan Quinlan epitomising the brutal work of the bombadier back-row.

Ronan O'Gara's impeccable boot made sure that all the inches, centimetres and millimetres of grunting, pushing and shoving didn't go un-rewarded, contributing 11 points in a flawless diplay of the art.

Denis Leamy's first-half try separated the two sides at the break with the fearless Munster No.8 making it second time lucky after bundling over from close range.

Jean Baptise Elisalde reduced the arrears with a couple of sweetly struck penalties but you always felt that the impending champions were in control, showing more composure at the breakdown and more menace in the tackle. Basically, they wanted it more...

French hopes were lifted when Yves Donguy pounced to slap his paws on the ball after Cedric Heymans showed exactly why he is considered one of the sport's most lethal weapons with a 75m burst that included a sumptuous chip and chase before the athletic genius that is Yannick Jauzion poaked it over the line.

In fairness, the trio were the heartbeat for most of Toulouse's best work but were always comfronted by an impenetrable red-brick-wall.

Toulouse dominated the opening exchanges but with so many uncharacteristic guilt-edged spillages with the try-line beckoning, Munster became more and more encouraged to feast on the scraps. It was like watching Jose Mourinho's Chelsea 'come and get us if you think your hard enough' act.

The hungrier of the two, Munster's water-tight defence reduced Jean-Baptiste Elisalde to hardly inspiring drop-goal attempts. It was a sign of the times that Toulouse, once the most feared arsenal in club rugby, were playing a brand of olde-English rugby.

Final's are never without controversy and Munster thought they had made the first dent in the try-scoring category when Leamy appeared to have got downward pressure after a succession of patient forward thrusts.

How poetic that one TMO could disappoint about 65,000 Irish people, correctly adjudging that he had coughed up a glorious opportunity to surge ahead. Paul O'Connell choked up another late-on but like any descent tail-ender, Munster's talisman had his on the end rather than the means after his eyes lit up like beacons.

You've heard of kicking someone up the back-side to give them impetous, but Toulouse's rock Fabien Pelous wouldn't have exactly perceived his typical moment of French petulence would iconically achieve such bonuses in both senses of the word.

His impersonation of another enigmatic French icon by karate kicking Alan Quinlan on the softest part of his anatomy not only gifted O'Gara his three points but spurred his fellow aristocrats on to their solitary try.

With the roof closed on the mugiest day of the year, the 'fields of athenry' echoed as if the game was being played in the 'bat cave' such was the piercing volume of every cheer that greeted every ounce of Munster momentum.

The dying stages in this war of attrition rather than advert for European rugby glamour summed up the achievements of both sides. Toulouse for all their talent littered from 1-15 are exactly that - a team that relies on the star individuals.

Munster are creating a dynasty, credited to the outgoing coach Declan Kidney, for whom there was not a more fitting finale.