**Ronan Kelleher’s hat-trick helped Leinster continue their imposing start to the Guinness PRO14 season thanks to an eight-try showing over Ospreys.**

Hooker Kelleher enjoyed a dream evening at the RDS Arena to bag his first three tries in senior rugby, with Fergus McFadden and Joe Tomane also scoring in the first-half.

Max Deegan, Harry Byrne and Michael Milne also dotted down for a Leinster side potent in attack and resolute in defence, with Ospreys struggling to get a foothold en route to their second defeat of the season.

KEY MOMENTS

Leinster made the early inroads and took a deserved lead thanks to a Ross Byrne penalty, with the fly-half then vital in helping the hosts pick up their first home score of the season.

His pinpoint cross-field kick found McFadden who had the simple task of spinning and dotting down with just ten minutes on the clock.

Still there was more to come in Leinster’s opening salvo, Will Connors bursting through a gap in the Ospreys defence and sending hooker Kelleher through for his first try in the Guinness PRO14.

Ospreys got a foothold in the game but couldn’t convert it into points, Leinster taking a 22-0 lead into the break after Tomane profited from gaps in the visiting backline to pile over in the corner.

Barely minutes had passed in the second half and the bonus point was secured, with Kelleher and his pack working hard to pounce on a loose ball and scramble his way over the whitewash.

With sharp attack and solid defence, Leinster weren’t letting up in their opening home game – bagging their fifth try with 50 minutes on the clock.

Kelleher was once again the man of the moment to secure his hat-trick but he had his team to thank, the maul working to perfection to sling the hooker over the line to make it 34-0.

His night was done just a minute later but Leinster were far from finished, replacement Deegan scoring the sixth within minutes of coming onto the pitch.

Harry Byrne then picked up the seventh and Michael Milne took the score into the fifties with his charge through the defence.

Ospreys were on the board when Matthew Aubrey took a quick attacking line-out to leave Luke Morgan to race over for the try, but it proved just consolation to Leinster’s emphatic Guinness PRO14 display.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Scoring your first senior try is always a memorable moment but Ronan Kelleher had something of a dream against the Ospreys – scoring a wonderful hat-trick to pave the way for a comfortable victory.

The first was the most impressive of the three, playing a superb supporting role to fellow forward Connors to charge over the line from 45 metres out.

The two to follow were far from shabby either, doubling up his tally and securing Leinster’s bonus-point in the process after the pack put pressure on the Ospreys defence, with Kelleher the man to profit and pounce on the loose ball to charge over.

What followed was little short of a front-row’s dream, the pack working superbly in the maul to sling the 21-year-old to an unforgettable hat-trick.

They all came with 50 minutes on the clock and by within two minutes his night was over, after becoming just the fourth hooker to score a Guinness PRO14 hat-trick.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Heading into the closing stages and with the result wrapped up, you could forgive Leinster for taking their foot off the gas.

But there was no thoughts of easing off for Harry Byrne, marking his first appearance at the RDS Arena with an impressive try.

Quick ball in attack made the play possible but it was the replacement’s drive and determination to burst through two Ospreys defenders that earned the five points.

Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales!

General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.