The Exeter Chiefs have been knocked out of the Heineken Champions Cup after losing 34-22 to Leinster.

Despite having won the tournament last year, they lost their quarter-final match yesterday.

The game started off with winger Tom O'Flaherty, wearing a white scrum cap after his minor head injury last week, on stunning form scoring two tries in the first ten minutes.

Just a short time later, Johnny Sexton swept down the blind side and opened up a space for Lowe to score for Leinster.

Sexton went off at 27 minutes due to an injury and was replaced by Ross Byrne.

A well-executed phase of play saw an overlap for Leinster winger Jordan Larmour and a try just a minute after Sexton's replacement.

A penalty kick saw Ross Byrne claim three points and put Leinster in the lead 20-14 before half time.

A powerful maul from the Chiefs let Dave Ewers score a strong try at 42 minutes.

With the sun in his eyes, Joe Simmonds missed the conversion but scored three points minutes later, with the score 22-20 to the Chiefs.

But Ross Byrne with another penalty put Leinster in the lead by a single point, 23-22.

Jordan Larmour then scored a try in the corner, with Joe Simmonds not quite able to pull him into touch.

A missed conversion left the score tight, but a penalty kick after Kirsten's high tackle saw Leinster take the lead with 31-22.

In a last ditch attempt to score, the Chiefs made it to Leinster's 5-metre line, but Kirsten gave away a penalty for obstruction.

The Chiefs then lost a line-out and Ollie Devoto passed the ball into touch.

A penalty to Leinster gave them a 34-22 lead in the 79th minute, and then a breakaway run led to another Leinster try - but it was disallowed after reviewing a high tackle on Chiefs player Kirsten.

With one last chance to score, the Chiefs kicked their penalty into touch, but then lost their line-out.

A hotly contested match with Leinster only a few points in the lead by the 60th minute, the Chiefs lost their composure at the end to a stronger Leinster side.