NEWPORT Gwent Dragons failed in their gallant attempt to win the Celtic League title at Lansdowne Road last night, but a glorious failure it was.

The Dragons were magnificent in the first half and roared into a 26-12 lead, gaining a bonus point after only 27 minutes.

But they were without injured Percy Montgomery in the second half and also had hooker Steve Jones yellow carded.

It proved too much and a star-studded Leinster team overhauled them, regained the lead and rubbed it in with two late tries.

But it was all academic anyway, for though the Dragons gained a bonus point Llanelli's victory over Ulster gave them the crown.

Cruelly, the Dragons were denied even runners-up spot when Ulster grabbed a bonus point.

The Dragons were without wing Nathan Brew, who failed a fitness test on his hamstring injury and was replaced by Ben Breeze, with Hal Luscombe moving to the right wing.

Leinster fielded a much stronger team than for much of the season with seven members of their World Cup squad playing, including Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, making his 50th appearance for the province.

Andy Marinos led the Dragons out for the last time before retiring from playing, but Leinster, apparently united after major behind the scenes upheavals this week ending in a players' vote of confidence for coach Gary Ella, started with a bang.

O'Driscoll immediately looked dangerous and they spurned a penalty chance, but the Dragons defence held and then the Dragons pounced for a try out of nothing.

Number eight Michael Owen broke strongly, bursting out of tackles and handed on to back row colleague Jason Forster who stormed over for his ninth try of the season which Percy Montgomery converted.

But the Irish team hit back within minutes when a fired up O'Driscoll exchanged passes with Shane Horgan and then shot away for a try They quickly added another when a charged down kick bounced kindly for Horgan who sent lock Malcolm O'Kelly charging over for a try and the lead. O'Meara converted.

But in a remarkable burst of scoring the Dragons rocked Leinster by regaining the lead when lovely interpassing, Baber and Sidoli prominent, ended with Ben Breeze touching down in the corner for a try which Montgomery converted in style to restore their lead at 14-12.

Amazingly, the Dragons scored their third try after just 19 minutes, and against such a strong Leinster team who were really going for victory.

But the Dragons persisted and were rewarded when Contepomi had a kick charged down, Warlow picked the ball up and swept across for another try, this time unconverted, but what stunning stuff!

The Dragons were playing out of their skins and Forster charged away again, supported by fellow flanker Jamie Ringer, but they just couldn't break through this time.

But break through again they did and incredibly secured a bonus point after only 27 minutes with their fourth try, and a cracker it was as Baber, Steve Jones and Sidoli handled and Chris Anthony roared across for the try which Montgomery converted.

A spell of calm followed after the glut of tries, and the next score was the first penalty, kicked by Leinster scrum half Brian O'Meara.

But this was cancelled out when Montgomery landed a penalty for the Dragons after thrilling handling by Foster, Baber, Luscombe, Gough, Warlow and Breeze.

But the game was by no means over and it became four tries to three when O'Driscoll worked some magic to put wing James Norton over for O'Meara to convert.

And with the last kick of the half O'Meara narrowed the gap to 29-25 with his second penalty.

The Dragons suffered a massive blow when they lost the influential Montgomery at half-time after he had been injured in a tackle. He was replaced by wing Gerald Arasa, with Luscombe moving to outside centre.

But Leinster lost number eight Victor Costello, yellow carded for going in from the wrong side. The Dragons responded with a huge all-out attack prompted by Marinos after Horgan had broken through, the ball switching left, Tuipulotu handling brilliantly and Steve Jones joining in with Sidoli crossing in the left corner after Ringer almost stumbled.

Warlow took over the place kicking and converted superbly from near touch, but Leinster replied when O'Meara kicked his third penalty and then Luscombe denied Ronan at the corner with brilliant cover, but Norton just made it to the line moments later with Breeze vainly hanging on after Dempsey had wrongfooted Marinos. O'Meara converted to narrow the gap to 36-35.

Warlow gave the Dragons respite with a penalty, but hooker Steve Jones was yellow carded for infringing at a ruck and immediately Leinster scored a pushover through O'Kelly to regain the lead, O'Meara converting to make it 42-39.

Props Rod Snow and Rhys Thomas plus centre Steve Winn went on as replacements, but it was all Leinster now and Contepomi forced his way over for their sixth try with three minutes left, O'Meara converting, and in injury time Ronan crossed as well, O'Meara again converting.