Match Reports

Match Report | Connacht 19 Ulster 32

27th December 2020
Ulster left The Sportsground with an impressive victory over Connacht on Sunday evening, after an Ian Madigan kicking masterclass and tries from Player-of-the-Match, Jordi Murphy and Nick Timoney strengthened Ulster’s position at the top of Conference A. It only took until the second minute of the game for Ulster to open the scoring after Connacht were penalised for not rolling away. Ian Madigan made no mistake with the long-range penalty effort. Ulster doubled their lead through another Ian Madigan penalty, after great work over the ball by Jordi Murphy. The hosts started to apply pressure on Ulster, forcing a number of scrum penalties five metres out, and Kyle McCall was sent to the sin bin to add to Ulster's woes. Connacht’s efforts paid dividends when Jack Carty dived over to score in the right-hand corner. He converted his own try and took the lead for the Galway side. Ulster responded immediately, however, with Ian Madigan adding three to his tally and re-taking the lead. That lead wasn’t long-lived, as Connacht capitalised on having the extra man on the field, going wide to winger John Porch who went over in the corner. Carty added the conversion. In the second half, with the Galway winds starting to pick up, Ulster were first to strike. The visitors got a penalty after Connacht were pinged for collapsing the maul. Ian Madigan kicked for the lineout option. Alby Mathewson went on a sniping run off the back of the Ulster maul but was brought down just short. Jordi Murphy obliged in picking up and powering over for the Ulster men. Ian Madigan made no mistake with the conversion. Ulster were in the ascendency, and Nick Timoney was next to get his name on the scoresheet, collecting a lovely inside ball from Greg Jones. Timoney bounced off a couple of tackles to make his way over the chalk. Madigan landed the extras. Connacht pulled one back through centre, Tom Daly bursting through the Ulster line. Carty pulled the conversion attempt wide to leave the score unconverted. However, Ian Madigan put Ulster out of sight with three excellent unanswered penalties in the swirling wind to give Ulster their ninth successive victory in the Guinness PRO14.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Connacht Tries: Jack Carty, John Porch, Tom Daly Conversions: Jack Carty (2)  Ulster Tries: Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney Conversions: Ian Madigan (2) Penalties: Ian Madigan (6)

LINE-UPS

Connacht (15-9) Tiernan O'Halloran, John Porch, Sammy Arnold, Tom Daly, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; (1-8) Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler (Capt.). Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Jordan Duggan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, Sean Masterson, Kieran Marmion, Sean O'Brien, Colm de Buitléar. Ulster (15-9) Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Ian Madigan, Alby Mathewson; (1-8) Kyle McCall, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney. Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Marty Moore, David O’Connor, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ben Moxham, Matt Faddes.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION