Leinster have been on the entrance foot from the restart with the ball labored patiently throughout for Lowe to attain as soon as once more within the forty third minute.
Northampton responded with their most constant spell of possession however have been undone by well timed interventions, first from Joe McCarthy after which Andrew Porter.
This fixture has already featured one well-known comeback, with Leinster having come from 22-6 behind to win the 2011 closing 33-22, and hopes of the same turnaround have been sparked by Northampton forcing a pair of scores late on.
Within the 58th minute, when Leinster misplaced a line-out in their very own half, Hendy took benefit of the damaged play to kick forward and collect to provide his facet a lifeline.
Nonetheless 10 factors forward, Leinster appeared to reply rapidly just for Byrne’s penalty to float extensive. Croke Park’s partisan crowd cheered because the ball sailed off line, greeting the sight of Eire head coach Andy Farrell on the large screens.
Northampton would deliver the sport inside a rating when Tom Seabrook went over within the 74th minute, doing so after the Saints had fought again to win a scrum penalty.
Smith’s conversion lower Leinster’s result in simply three and the Saints threatened one of many nice comebacks within the closing minutes just for substitute back-rower Jack Conan’s turnover with 40 seconds remaining to deliver one final Croke Park roar.
Nonetheless prime of the Premiership, Northampton will take lots from their closing quarter again into home motion.
Leinster, in the meantime, will put together for his or her third Champions Cup closing in a row.
Leinster: Frawley; Larmour, Henshaw, Osborne, Lowe; R Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong; Molony, McCarthy; Baird, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Ala’alatoa, Jenkins, Conan, McGrath, H Byrne, O’Brien.
Northampton: Furbank; Ramm, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Davison; Moon, Coles; Lawes (capt), Graham, Augustus.
Replacements: Matavesi, Iyogun, Millar-Mills, Mayanavanua, Scott-Younger, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (Fra)