Downey wants to end on a high as Munster seek final spot

Munster's last appearance in the European Cup final was when they won the trophy with a 16-13 victory over Toulouse in 2008.

Since then Munster have been to three semi-finals but have failed on every occasion to progress to the showpiece.

But this time Downey believes his side can put those ghosts to bed and give themselves a chance to add to their two victories in the competition.

Downey is set to leave the club when the season comes to a close and, while he knows it is no easy feat to beat the holders in France, he is determined to end his time at the club on a high.

"You want to create your own legacy as well, rather than living in the past," he told the Irish Independent.

"You want to win your own trophies. It's a young team coming through and they want to make their own stamp now. They'd like to have their own bit of history.

"Last year after playing Clermont, we realised in the dressing-room that we had let it slip. We had a great chance to beat Clermont away and we said to ourselves that we had to remember that game for this year.

"We're more confident now. We're more experienced and more prepared than we were last year. We've got another chance to do it. It's going to be a great occasion."