Plucky Munster’s late revival ends with late victory
- Updated: 20/12/2024
Ulster 19, Munster 22
WHAT a brilliant display of URC rugby! Ulster had most of the territory but the Munster defence was absolutely magnificent. The difference between the sides was the ability of the visiting attack to strike when they staged their attacks and while they only attacked in spasms, they proved lethal when it was most required. All the hard work with the attack and defensive coaches continues to pay dividends and Mikey Prendergast and Denis Leamy can feel very proud of their hard work.
Ulster battered the Munster defence right from the start and they led 7-0 on seven minutes thanks to a hard-earned try from James McNabney, converted by John Cooney. It took Munster 27 minutes to reply, Tom Farrell out-pacing the Ulster defence to touch down, but Jack Crowley failed with the conversion. Ulster were reduced to 14 when loose head prop Andrew Warwick was shown red and it was 7-5 to the home side going in at the break.
The second half was nail-biting with Ulster staging a continuous siege on the Munster line without success. Jack Crowley made a brilliant burst after retrieving a kick through the defence and it was 10-7 to Ian Costelloe’s men when Tom Farrell once againout-foxed the Ulster rearguard to go over, the conversion once again missed by Crowley. At 7-10 Ulster need a score and it arrived when Harry Sheridan squeezed over the line but, crucially, John Cooney’s conversion came back off the post. Munster’s response was emmediate, Shane Daly brilliantly out-fosing the Ulster defence to touch down but Crowley missed the kick that left his side 12-15 in front.
It looked as if Ulster had sealed the win with a few minutes to go when James McNabney forced his way over, Cooney converted and the home support were on their feet, Not for the first time in recent seasons, Munster’s “stand up and fight until you hear the bell” was put into play with man of the match Tom Farrell racing over after some blinding backline play, Crowley added the two points and Munster rejoiced after a very welcome URC wing.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 104th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney, Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (c), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, Marcus Rea, David McCann
Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Dave Shanahan, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer
Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue (CAPT), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Evan O’Connell, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson
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