Ulster's Play-off Bid Almost Over After Munster Loss

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 each but complete aft a 38-20 conclusion by Munster astatine Thomond Park.

The visitors were down by conscionable 4 points astatine half-time but for nan 2nd week successful succession grounded to people successful nan 2nd half.

With only 1 crippled remaining, nan conclusion leaves Richie Murphy's broadside 5 points disconnected nan apical 8 and their absence from nan knock-out stages and adjacent season's Champions Cup could beryllium confirmed by results elsewhere successful Round 17.

The bonus-point triumph lifts Munster backmost into nan play-off places and ensures their destiny will beryllium successful their ain hands during nan last play erstwhile they big Benetton.

With adjacent week's location fixture to beryllium played successful Cork, nan triumph complete their Irish rivals almost surely represented a last outing successful Thomond Park for Munster's Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Peter O'Mahony pinch nan second providing 1 of his side's six tries.

After a hat-trick successful nan reverse fixture successful December, Tom Farrell crossed doubly while Michael Milne, Tadhg Beirne and Niall Scannell besides sewage complete for scores.

Ulster caput coach Richie Murphy said pre-match he believed this was nan strongest squad he has had disposable since taking nan occupation successful March 2023.

The return of Iain Henderson for his first action since February provided a awesome boost and it was nan side's skipper who created nan opening effort pinch his offload aft a stalled maul putting Stuart McCloskey complete for a people aft only 5 minutes.

Munster responded quickly, taking advantage of Ulster's concession of penalties earlier prop Michael Milne collapsed complete from adjacent range.

Crowley missed nan conversion to support Ulster up but their prop Scott Wilson was sent to nan misdeed bin for a precocious tackle aft a 4th of an hour.

Ulster survived 8 minutes pinch their man disadvantage, and so extended their lead done a Jack Murphy penalty, but Munster drew level erstwhile O'Mahony stepped backmost wrong and provided nan scoring walk for Farrell's first score.

Both sides were past blameworthy of overplaying disconnected restarts.

Munster talented nan advantage backmost to Ulster arsenic they tried to play retired from heavy and were turned over. The visitors made them salary erstwhile Murphy spun a walk retired to Henderson who gave his 2nd scoring walk of nan evening to Jude Postlethwaite.

Ulster's lead was not to past arsenic Murphy was charged down by Beirne arsenic he tried to clear his lines pinch nan British and Irish Lions action gathering nan loose shot to people and put his his broadside up for good.

The past of nan six first-half tries brought up Munster's prize constituent erstwhile Niall Scannell collapsed complete from a maul, though Ulster did trim nan shortage to 4 points earlier nan interval pinch different Murphy penalty.

It would, however, beryllium nan past points they scored successful nan game.

After nan sides shared 44 points and a mates of scuffles successful nan first half, nan opening minutes aft nan move were much tepid fare.

Munster would return power of matters successful nan 54th infinitesimal erstwhile McCloskey was sent to nan bin for kicking nan shot retired of nan ruck and Ian Costello's broadside scored disconnected nan adjacent play.

This clip making speedy usage of their numerical superiority, they caught Ulster ray successful a cardinal position pinch Farrell making usage of nan abstraction to people his second.

The host's sixth effort arrived conscionable earlier nan hr and was surely nan astir celebrated of nan nighttime arsenic O'Mahony roseate supra Nathan Doak to declare Crowley's cross-field footwear and dot down.

The Munster fable was replaced soon aft to a immense ovation from nan Limerick crowd.

Archer joined him connected nan sidelines aft a akin information of applause pinch Ulster's hopes fundamentally ended erstwhile replacement prop Callum Reid was held up complete nan statement soon earlier a turnover astatine a maul heavy 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)