3 days ago
8
United Rugby Championship
Munster (24) 38
Tries: Milne, Farrell 2, Beirne, Scannell, O'Mahony Cons: Crowley 4 Pens:
Ulster (20) 20
Tries: McCloskey, Postlethwaite Cons: Murphy 2 Pens: Murphy 2
Ulster's United Rugby Championship play-off hopes are all but over after a 38-20 defeat by Munster at Thomond Park.
The visitors were behind by just four points at half-time but for the second week in succession failed to score in the second half.
With only one game remaining, the defeat leaves Richie Murphy's side five points off the top eight and their absence from the knock-out stages and next season's Champions Cup could be confirmed by results elsewhere in Round 17.
The bonus-point victory lifts Munster back into the play-off places and ensures their destiny will be in their own hands during the final weekend when they host Benetton.
With next week's home fixture to be played in Cork, the victory over their Irish rivals almost certainly represented a final outing in Thomond Park for Munster's Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Peter O'Mahony with the latter providing one of his side's six tries.
After a hat-trick in the reverse fixture in December, Tom Farrell crossed twice while Michael Milne, Tadhg Beirne and Niall Scannell also got over for scores.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said pre-match he believed this was the strongest squad he has had available since taking the job in March 2024.
The return of Iain Henderson for his first action since February provided a major boost and it was the side's skipper who created the opening try with his offload after a stalled maul putting Stuart McCloskey over for a score after only five minutes.
Munster responded quickly, taking advantage of Ulster's concession of penalties before prop Michael Milne crashed over from close range.
Crowley missed the conversion to keep Ulster ahead but their prop Scott Wilson was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle after a quarter of an hour.
Ulster survived eight minutes with their man disadvantage, and indeed extended their lead through a Jack Murphy penalty, but Munster drew level when O'Mahony stepped back inside and provided the scoring pass for Farrell's first score.
Both sides were then guilty of overplaying off restarts.
Munster gifted the advantage back to Ulster as they tried to play out from deep and were turned over. The visitors made them pay when Murphy spun a pass out to Henderson who gave his second scoring pass of the evening to Jude Postlethwaite.
Ulster's lead was not to last as Murphy was charged down by Beirne as he tried to clear his lines with the British and Irish Lions selection gathering the loose ball to score and put his his side ahead for good.
The last of the six first-half tries brought up Munster's bonus point when Niall Scannell crashed over from a maul, although Ulster did reduce the deficit to four points before the interval with another Murphy penalty.
It would, however, be the last points they scored in the game.
After the sides shared 44 points and a couple of scuffles in the first half, the opening minutes after the turn were more tepid fare.
Munster would take control of matters in the 54th minute when McCloskey was sent to the bin for kicking the ball out of the ruck and Ian Costello's side scored off the next play.
This time making quick use of their numerical superiority, they caught Ulster light in a central position with Farrell making use of the space to score his second.
The host's sixth try arrived just before the hour and was surely the most popular of the night as O'Mahony rose above Nathan Doak to claim Crowley's cross-field kick and dot down.
The Munster legend was replaced soon after to a huge ovation from the Limerick crowd.
Archer joined him on the sidelines after a similar round of applause with Ulster's hopes essentially ended when replacement prop Callum Reid was held up over the line shortly before a turnover at a maul deep into Munster territory.
Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.
Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.
Yellow card: J Wycherley
Ulster: Lowry, Baloucoune, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Warwick, Herring, Wilson; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, Timoney, McNabney.
Replacements: Stewart, Reid, O'Toole, O'Connor, McCann, Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Kok.
Yellow cards: Wilson, McCloskey
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
