Glasgow's dream of reaching the Celtic League final was dashed in Dublin as they bowed 35-13 to the superior pace and power of Leinster.

The Scots won an equal share of the ball at Lansdowne Road - but there was no way back after they gifted the locals three tries.

The visitors had ruled the opening exchanges - yet found themselves 12 points adrift after 15 minutes.

They paid the ultimate price for failing to turn pressure into scores as they handed the Irishmen two soft ones in quick succession.

The first came during Leinster's first entry to enemy territory. With the defence struggling to cover, it was full-back Girvan Dempsey who dived over from close-range. The conversion was from the widest possible angle, but stand-off Nathan Spooner made it look simple.

Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll squeezed in at the corner for the second touchdown after a run by Victor Costello.

The rattled Scots replied in positive fashion to break their duck with a Tommy Hayes penalty.

Spooner was back in action to earn another three points for the Dubliners with a penalty after Gordon Simpson had illegally entered a maul from the side.

And Glasgow sustained another double-jolt just before the interval. First, centre Andy Henderson was yellow-carded for attempting to kill the ball at a ruck virtually under his own crossbar. Then scrum-half Brian O'Meara slotted the easy penalty to open up an ominous 15-points.

Hayes had another opportunity to keep his side's hopes alive with a 50-metre penalty just after the restart and his aim was true.

But any realistic prospect of a revival was dashed when Shane Horgan cruised in to give Spooner another kicking formality.

Glasgow refused to buckle completely as wing Mike Bartlett defiantly broke through for an opportunist score, goaled by Hayes.

However Leinster replied with a Denis Hickie touchdown, Spooner converting, then adding a penalty.