A magical display from Brian O'Driscoll helped Celtic League champions Leinster get off to a winning start to their title defence with a 31-18 victory over Pontypridd at Donnybrook, Dublin on Friday night.

The Lions centre, who had missed a goo deal of pre-season training with an ankle injury, showed no sign of rustiness as he scored two tries and had a major hand in two more as Leinster overturned a 5-15 deficit.

Ponty drew first blood in the 14th minute when full-back Brett Davey sent over a penalty.

But that only served to spur the home side into action and within two minutes of the restart, Leinster were in front as left wing Denis Hickie finished off a lightning-fast counter-attack started on the other flank by O'Driscoll's quick thinking kick ahead.

Andy Dunne missed the conversion and that let the visitors edge back in front when Nick Kelly touched down as the Ponty pack drove their Leinster counterparts over their own line in the 30th minute.

Davey converted and the Welsh side were in front at 10-5.

They went further in front when prop Duncan Bell crashed over in the corner eight minutes later for an unconverted try but just as Ponty coach Lynn Howells was contemplating a 15-5 half-time lead, O'Driscoll popped up again to weave his magic with a burst of acceleration from just inside the visitors' half.

Dunne converted and suddenly the game was well poised with an interval score of 15-12 to the Welsh.

The second half belonged to the Irish, however, who were in front at 19-15 within five minutes of the restart after a magnificent try, this time finished off by O'Driscoll under the posts following a dazzling run from Hickie.

Davey kept Pontypridd in touch with a penalty on the hour but three minutes later Hickie grabbed his second try after a misjudgement by substitute Neil Jenkins.

The Wales and Lions goalkicking legend who, less than two minutes after coming on as a sub after an amazing recovery from a foot injury, was deceived by a high ball and his error was pounced on by the Irish wing who gratefully ran over the line.

Dunne missed the conversion but he was to get another, much easier bite at the cherry when another piece of O'Driscoll magic set up Malcolm O'Kelly to touch down under the posts for Leinster's fifth try of the night.