Skipper Bob Casey lead from the front and his pack of forwards dominated their French counterparts and in doing so, marched forward into the final four of the toughest club rugby competition in Europe.

Irish began with tempo and looked much the more dangerous side in the opening minutes but fell behind to a Percy Montgomery penalty when Alain Rolland penalised Topsy Ojo for a high tackle.

But Perpignan began to win the 50-50 battles in the forwards, and only a timely intervention by Seilela Tagicakibau stopped what looked destined to be the game’s opening try after a quarter of the match.

And when Nick Kennedy found himself fouled at the next lineout, Irish outside half Peter Hewat landed a penalty to lock the scores at three apiece.

And moments later the home side were in front when 30-year-old Hewat, slotted his second goal of the game.

But as so often is the case in the high intensity of the Heineken Cup discipline was crucial and Montgomery levelled up the scores with a 30m penalty from directly in front of the posts after 27 minutes.

Mike Catt directed Irish for the first score of the game on the half hour mark. The move began when a lineout was stolen by Nick Kennedy, Tagicakibau weaved his way beyond the gain line and once the ball was recycled, Catt put a cross field kick that was neatly gathered by Declan Danaher who dotted down.

The proved to be Catt’s last action of the game as he left the field injured and was replaced by Shane Gerhaty.

And the defence was doing their bit, Paul Hodgson saved a certain try by tackling Adrain Plante into the corner, a decision confirmed by the TMO. However referee Rolland called play back for an earlier infringement and Montgomery bought the scores to 11-9 at the interval.

The second half began with both sides looking to assert some authority on the match, but the sides remained locked as both Hewat and Montgomery battle with the boot.

And it was the Australian whose goal kicking dominated the second half scoring with penalty goals after 53, 57 and 61 minutes to extend the lead to five, eight, and then 11 points.

By this point Irish were dominant, particularly at the lineout where Kennedy impressed. Perpignan had been stifled out of the match as the front five of the home side asserted their authority at the set piece and in the loose. And the statistics backed up the claim, with Irish winning 15 of their 16 lineouts .

The home fans knew the game was up, the 16,048 crowd raising the decibel levels inside the Madejski Stadium knowing they are now just eighty minutes away from a place in the final of the premier competition in European rugby.

They now face the winners of Sunday’s match between Toulouse and Cardiff Blues at Twickenham in three weeks.