FARDY INSPIRES LEIN HEARTS

LEINSTER advanced to their first Champions Cup final since 2012 after swatting Scarlets aside at the Aviva Stadium.

Leo Cullen’s men were relentless as they put the Welsh region to the sword, notching first-half tries through James Ryan, Cian Healy and Fergus McFadden, and adding two more after the break from man-of-the-match Scott Fardy (left, in blue) and Jonathan Sexton.

They had clearly done their homework after last year’s Guinness Pro12 semi-final defeat to Scarlets, McFadden’s try on the stroke of half-time giving the Irish province a 24-9 half-time lead.

Leigh Halfpenny’s three penalties from three attempts, and a slight scrum advantage, were Scarlets’ only positives in this one-sided Celtic clash, and they salvaged some pride late on with a try from former Leinster forward Tadhg Beirne.

It was Leinster’s eighth straight European win this season and sets up the possibility of an all-Irish final in Bilbao in three weeks if Munster come through today’s semi-final against Racing 92.

Captain Johnny Sexton, who is chasing a fourth European crown, believes the Blues are shaping nicely to deliver in Spain.

But he refused to be drawn on whether he wanted to face Munster or his former club Racing 92.

“They’re both quality teams, no matter who plays it’s going to be a very tough game. Racing were champions a couple of years ago in France and Munster, if we play Munster, it’ll be a very special game for all of us.”

Leinster 38 Scarlets Champions Cup Semi-Final 16