COVENTRY, England (AFP) - Munster held out against a brave Saracens side by 18-16 to win through to their fourth European Cup final at the Ricoh Arena here on Sunday.
The Irish province will now return to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, scene of their European Cup-winning triumph two years ago over Biarritz, to play three-time champions Toulouse, who beat London Irish 21-15 at Twickenham on Saturday, in the final on May 24.
Man of the match Paul O'Connell, who helped provide the platform which allowed Ireland outside-half to score 13 of Munster's points, said it had been a tight and emotional match.
"It probably was too close for comfort," the Ireland lock admitted.
"There was a lot of emotion out there with Richard Hill (Saracens' England World Cup-winning back row) probably playing his last match and it being his last chance of winning some silverware."
Munster coach Declan Kidney added: "We got out of jail today. It was just one of those games that went with a roll of a dice and it came out our way.
"Sheer guts and work-rate got us through," explained Kidney, tipped to take over as Ireland coach following the resignation of Eddie O'Sullivan.
Saracens coach Alan Gaffney, in charge of Munster when they lost successive European Cup semi-finals in 2004 and 2005, was proud of the way his side, shock quarter-final winners over the Ospreys, had so nearly upset the odds again.
"It was an emotional dressing room, the most emotional I've known," said the Australian, who next season will join Irish province Leinster's backroom staff.
"No-one gave us much hope but ourselves. But we played well against the Ospreys, I knew we had it in us.
"I had tears in my eyes (afterwards), I was struggling to talk."
Saracens captain Neil de Kock said a failure to take their chances had cost the north Londoners dear.
"We kept getting into the 'A zone', their 22, but we turned the ball over on four occasions and gave away three penalties. That's going to come back to bite you in a knockout game," said the South African scrum-half.
Saracens, in their first European Cup semi-final, didn't look like a side that had conceded 40 points last weekend in the Premiership and opened the scoring with a spectacular length of the field try in the fifth minute.
Full-back Richard Haughton ran the ball out of defence from near his own line before finding left wing Kameli Ratuvou, who chipped on.
The ball was regathered by Saracens centre Adam Powell, who sprinted away before cutting inside and being tackled just short of the line by All Black wing Doug Howlett.
However, when the ball was recycled, Fiji flyer Ratuvou went over from close range to complete a breathtaking 100 metre score.
Saracens stand-off Glen Jackson landed the simple conversion and the underdogs were 7-0 up.
Munster stormed back and O'Gara, after kicking a penalty, put the Irish giants into the lead.
From a lineout, the ball was moved crossfield and O'Gara crashed over for a 25th minute try.
But he missed the seemingly simple conversion, although it needed the video referee to confirm his error. Nevertheless, Munster were now 8-7 in front.
Seconds before half-time, they extended the lead when, after a diagonal break by Howlett and a quick tap penalty, flanker Alan Quinlan burst burst clear for a try under the posts.
This time O'Gara did convert and Munster were 15-7 ahead.
Saracens started the second-half strongly and saw New Zealander Jackson kick a penalty which reduced Munster's lead.
Ratuvou repeatedly posed problems as Saracens pressed and, when Munster centre Rua Tipoki was sin-binned for killing the ball, Jackson's second penalty meant the Londoners were just two points behind, only to have prop Nick Lloyd sin-binned.
Saracens were reduced to 13 men after replacement prop Census Johnston was yellow-carded and an O'Gara penalty put Munster 18-13 ahead before Jackson pegged them back to set up a grandstand finish with nine minutes left to play.
But, try, as they might, Saracens couldn't fashion a winning score.
