From Munsters storied win in 2006 to Leinsters European reversal in Croke Park in 2009, Alan Quinlan shares his memories of both contests and a seminal encounter in 1998... Leinster versus Munster was always a big game in the calendar and youd have a spring in your step the week of the match.Our goal in 1998 would have been to be the best Irish province, year-on-year, and we took a big step towards that in the final game of the inter-pro series. 1998: Leinster 10-25 Munster Alan Quinlan breaks through the Leinster line This is the one that stands out because we had to beat Leinster and win on points difference to lift the inter-pro. There must have been around 5,000 people at the game in Donnybrook, which was nowhere near 80,000 people who would come later. But it was the start of a journey, building towards a team that could compete in Europe and eventually win Europe.Professionalism was still very new but there was a great rivalry in the inter-pros. Id gone to games as a kid and had played for Munster Youths so I understood the history associated with the fixture. But these games always felt like a final trial too because if you played well you could progress up the line to play for Ireland. Id been working as a car mechanic for five-and-a-half years so it was a dream come true to be getting paid for playing rugby.Myself, David Wallace and Anthony Foley were all starting out then, John Hayes was coming through along with more established players like Killian Keane, John Lacey and Peter Clohessy.We had played in Dooradoyle earlier in the season and there was about 300 at the game. Leinster beat us and this was the return fixture.It was always the same when we played Leinster - if we got the better of them up front we had a chance. They had a quality backline and pace but we finished with the trophy.2006: Leinster 6-30 Munster Ronan OGara cuts through a tired Leinster defence to score Losing to Leinster in the Celtic League final in 2001 was a big disappointment for us and the rivalry really started to escalate because now it was tied up with winning big trophies, so that Celtic League loss was a painful defeat.It was all building to 2006 which was a unique occasion but I didnt get to play.I suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the start of the season but I was with group and in the hotel the night before the game.I remember the bus from the Radisson in Stillorgan and being blown away by the crowd. It must have been the first time there was 50,000-plus at a Munster v Leinster game.I watched from behind dug-out in old Lansdowne Road. It was phenomenal. Ronan OGara salutes Munsters support after victory over Leinster in Lansdowne Road We felt confident after beating Perpignan in the quarter-finals. No one expected Leinster to beat Toulouse away 41-35 and we were delighted because we expected to be going to France. To return to Lansdowne felt like a great opportunity for us. It wasnt over-confidence but we sensed an opportunity to get to the final and wed a better chance of beating Leinster in Dublin.We were under no illusions as to how strong the Leinster backline was. They were all top quality, were in the national side and obviously theyd the potential to hurt any team.I knew the biggest threat was their backline and we felt if we could limit opportunities here wed win the game.I think that match ignited the Leinster machine - the result, the amount of Munster people that got tickets, the atmosphere, that we then went on to win it. It was probably a bit of shock and envy.2009: Leinster 25-10 Munster Gordon DArcy squeezes over in the corner to set the tone for the 2009 European Cup semi-final It wasnt all good memories and we didnt go into the 2009 game thinking we should win it. But we had beaten Leinster twice already that year, 18-0 in the RDS and 22-5 in Thomond Park.It was an incredible occasion in Croke Park but we were just stuck in the ground, caught cold and they produced a brilliant performance. Brian ODriscoll scores a breakaway try that put an end to Munsters hope in 2009 It was extra disappointing for me as I ended up missing out on the Lions Tour [after being cited over an incident involving Leo Cullen].It wasnt just the disappointment of losing the game, there was a bigger situation at play for me and the result lost its significance. It was harder to take that I was now a doubt for South Africa.For Leinster, they avenged what happened in 2006 and it was a kick-start for them to go on.Watch Leinster v Munster live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday from 5pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. Also See: PRO12 try of the month PRO12 highlights PRO12 table Rugby Union on Sky Cheap MLB Jerseys .com) - The Miami Heat will try to close out the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round series. Cheap Ted Williams Jersey . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-babe-ruth-jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug. Cheap Carlton Fisk Jersey .Y. -- The New York Islanders were seeking a positive finish to a frustrating season on home ice. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said.BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox were charging out of the dugout before the winning run reached home plate. After a 10-game skid, winning sure feels good. Atlantas third error in the last two innings allowed Jackie Bradley Jr. to score from second as the Red Sox rallied to beat Atlanta 4-3 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win. "They contributed with some balls in play on the defensive side of things," Boston manager John Farrell said. "Just a good comeback win overall." Boston trailed 3-1 before tying it with a pair of runs in the eighth then won it in the ninth. Bradley and Brock Holt drew back-to-back walks off closer Craig Kimbrel (0-1). Xander Bogaerts followed with a hard grounder to Chris Johnson at third base for an infield single. Johnson stopped it and made a strong throw but La Stella missed the catch with Holt bearing down. Bradley hadnt even scored yet when the Red Sox began rushing out of the dugout. "The arrows pointing in the right direction," Bradley said. Bogaerts was credited with a single and the error was initially charged to Johnson. The official scoring on the play was changed later and the error charged to La Stella. The change mattered little to the Braves, who had no errors before taking a 3-1 lead into the eighth. "You play this game long enough, things like that are going to happen," said centre fielder B.J. Upton, who had one of two errors for the Braves in the eighth. "Well get by it and be ready to play tomorrow." Koji Uehara (1-1) got the win after eight solid innings by starter Jake Peavy for the Red Sox, who completed a four-game sweep in the home-and-home series with the Braves. "Its just unfortunate. I felt like we were making good pitches at the end and the balls were just dropping in," Atlanta starter Mike Minor said. "Theyre a tough team. I feel like every four games we played them, they battled back every time. Its kind of expected out of them to battle back." Minor also pitched well, holding Boston to one ruun on seven hits in seven innings.dddddddddddd Minor didnt walk a batter and struck out three. Jason Heyward homered and Freddie Freeman drove in a run and scored once for the Braves, who lost their fourth straight and fifth in six games. Atlanta led 3-1 when Holt led off the eighth with a bloop single to left off reliever David Carpenter. He went to second when left fielder Justin Upton took his eye off the ball and it bounced past him. Bogaerts followed with an RBI single and Dustin Pedroia reached on a slow roller up the middle that was called a hit. A.J. Pierzynski followed with another single to centre that B.J. Upton let get by him for the second error of the inning, allowing Bogaerts to score and tie it at 3-all. "I had it lined up right in the middle of my body and went to field it. The grass just kind of took it away from me," B.J. Upton said. Atlanta had just gone up 3-1 with a run in the top of the eighth. B.J. Upton led off with a single to left and scored when Freeman followed with a double off the wall in left-centre. Heywards homer with two outs in the third gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead. The Braves added a run in the fourth when Freeman led off with a walk, advanced to second on a balk and scored on Evan Gattis single. Boston cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the fifth when David Ross doubled and scored on a two-out double by Holt. Peavy allowed three runs on eight hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked one. NOTES: Boston returns to American League play Friday when Tampa Bay visits Friday with LHP David Price (4-4) facing Boston righty Brandon Workman (0-0). ... Boston DH David Ortiz did not start because of a sore right calf, a move manager John Farrell called precautionary. Ortiz pinch hit in the eighth and drew an intentional walk with two outs. ... Boston 1B Ryan Lavarnway left the game in the sixth with a sore left wrist. ... ... 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