Two McWeeney tries in three second half minutes killed off the Scarlets’ challenge, with a 16-point haul from scrum half Brian O’Meara’s right boot.

It was a lively opening from both sides with Leinster, backed by a slight breeze, pinning the visitors back into their 22’ after three minutes, and a high tackle from wing Salesi Finau gave O’Meara his first penalty success from in front of the Welsh posts.

Top tournament kicker Gareth Bowen replied barely sixty seconds later from inside the Leinster ten-metre line, for what proved to be the Scarlets’ only score of the first half.

The visitors almost had the game’s first try on 11 minutes but flanker Ian Boobyer knocked on when attempting to burrow over from close range.

Ella’s charges got the crucial score in the 27th minute when a run from full back Gordon D’Arcy from his own 22 metre line saw him exchange passes with Gary Brown and prop Niall Treston before Warner arrived onto a flat pass from David Quinlan to outpace Barry Davies to the Welsh line.

O’Meara converted and a third success with the boot gave the home side a 13-3 lead by the half-hour.

A third penalty from O’Meara went straight over in the fourth minute of injury time, before Llanelli’s Bowen brought the visitors back to within ten points after four minutes of the second half, with a left-sided penalty.

A moment of controversy followed with the sin-binning of Leinster lock Ben Gissing and Scarlets’ prop John Davies for infringing, but for whatever reason Davies rejoined the action one minute later.

Referee Rob Dickson failed to notice but yellow-carded lock James Griffiths three minutes later, and with play continuing, McWeeney scored his brace on 54 and 56 minutes.

Niall Treston’s leg injury on the hour, seeing him strapped into a stretcher, did nothing to dispel the rumours that Donnybrook is built on an ancient burial ground, with the Leinster prop becoming their eleventh player currently injured.

The Welsh side scored a consolation try through centre Tal Selley, his fourth of the season from close range in the 72nd minute before out-half Bowen retired through injury.

Llanelli attempted to pummel the home line in the closing stages, with a bout of sustained pressure seeing Ian Boobyer cross in the fourteenth minute of stoppage time, and full back Barry Davies converting.

Scorers: Leinster: O’Meara 4 pens, 2 cons, Warner try, McWeeney 2 tries; Llanelli: Bowen 2 pens, B Davies 2 cons, Selley, Boobyer try each.

LEINSTER: G D’Arcy; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown; M Leek, B O’Meara; E Byrne, G Hickie, N Treston, A Kearney, B Gissing, N Breslin, S Jennings (capt), D Dillon.

Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, C Potts, N Ronan, S Whelan, P McKenna, D O’Shea.

LLANELLI: B Davies; R Rees, T Selley, M Watkins, S Finau; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, A Gravelle, J Davies, J Griffiths, A Jones, V Cooper (capt), I Boobyer, E Lewis.

Replacements: D Maddocks, A Yelland, B Griffiths, G Williams, D Burn, C Thomas, L Byrne.

Referee: R Dickson (SRU)

Attendance: 3,400