Last minute try wins it for Munster
MATCH REPORT: A last-minute converted try from Ben Healy saw Munster come from behind to beat Ulster 15-14 in their United Rugby Championship clash on New Year's Day.
Munster came from being 9-0 down in the opening half thanks to a Paddy Patterson try before Robert Baloucoune’s 67th-minute try looked to have sealed it for the home team.
Instead substitute Healy then slotted a penalty before, with the clock in red, he dotted down, adding the conversion to win the clash.
It took 15 minutes of fairly scrappy play before John Cooney got Ulster moving with a well-struck penalty.
Four minutes later he did the same after James Hume had been taken out without the ball and on 24 minutes Cooney landed a third penalty after Jack O’Donoghue was offside.
Munster then came back into the game after Marty Moore had to be carted off with a leg injury but though they laid siege to the Ulster line, which led to Tom Stewart’s 34th-minute yellow card, the home team held firm to make it to half-time 9-0 in front.
Four minutes after the restart Munster scored the first try of the game when Patterson scampered clear at a ruck to dot down. Jack Crowley hit the upright with his conversion to keep Ulster 9-5 ahead.
There were no further scores until the 67th minute when Ulster finally moved the ball into space from left to right, Stuart McCloskey’s long skip pass finding Baloucoune who raced clear to touch the ball down.
Nathan Doak missed the difficult conversion.
Healy then kicked a 73rd-minute penalty before the game ended with Munster coming at Ulster strongly and with the clock in red, Healy dived over near the posts, with his conversion then winning the game.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Baloucoune
Pens: Cooney 3
For Munster
Tries: Patterson, Healy
Cons: Healy
Pens: Healy
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Sean Reffell, 6 Greg Jones, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Kiran McDonald, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Roman Salanoa, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Cian Hurley, 20 Jack O’Sullivan, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Patrick Campbell.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Referee assistants: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Paul Haycock (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)