The victory snaps a five-game losing streak for Richie Murphy’s men and lifts them into the top half of the table as the league breaks for the conclusion of the Investec Champions Cup pool stages.
Ulster had to dig deep even before a ball was kicked in Galway, with experienced forwards Rob Herring and Alan O’Connor having to withdraw from the starting lineup, John Andrew and Kieran Treadwell were drafted in.
Ulster outscored their host by two tries to one but it was a huge defensive effort that made sure the four points returned to Belfast, with skipper Nick Timoney leading from the from and winning the man of the match accolade.
Jack Murphy showed no nerves on his first start at senior level kicking a 50/22 from a turnover in the opening two minutes, but as Ulster moved the ball from the lineout, they knocked on close to the Connacht line.
Ulster nearly broke the deadlock on seven minutes after the forwards probed at the try line, but Connacht flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton turned the ball over.
Ulster finally made their possession and territorial dominance count on 11 minutes.
From a five-metre scrum, number eight, James McNabney, surged of the base, the forwards barged at the line for a few phases before prop Eric O’Sullivan powered through a gap to touchdown.
Nathan Doak added the conversion.
Doak extended Ulster’s lead with a simple penalty from in from of the posts after Connacht infringed at the breakdown following a storming charge by McNabney.
Connacht opened their account on 34 minutes, Jack Carty’s kick caused confusion in the Ulster defence and Mack Hansen reacted quickest gathering the ball and sprinting under the posts unopposed.
Carty’s conversion cut Ulster’s half time lead to 7-10.
The skipper, Timoney, got Ulster’s second try 14 minutes after the restart.
Connacht gave away a cheap penalty and Jack Murphy nudged it into the 22. Ulster's forwards drove at the line and the home side infringed again.
Ulster turned down the easy kick at goal and went to the corner from the resulting penalty.
The forwards set the maul up perfectly with Timoney using his power to hold off three tacklers to twist over the line and ground the ball, Doak landed the conversion.
Ulster had an escape on 69 minutes, after Connacht won a penalty in the visitor’s 22, they turned down an easy three points, however centre Cathal Forde's kick for the corner nudged the ball dead.
Hansen nearly unlocked the Ulster defence with a kick over the top that the Irish winger hacked on, but Harry Sheridan won the race and carried the ball over his own try line. From the resulting five-metre scrum to Connacht, the visitor’s replacement front row won a crucial penalty.
Connacht continued pro in the Ulster 22, but the defence stood strong and Ulster nearly got a third try at the death following a turnover from Izuchukwu that was fed to Murphy who sprinted and kicked into the Connacht 22 for an attack.
Ulster fended off the late surge and secured a memorable interpro victory in Galway to end 2024 with a much needed boost.
Scorers:
Connacht
TRY: Mack Hansen
CON: Jack Carty
Ulster
TRY: Eric O’Sullivan, Nick Timoney
CON: Nathan Doak x2
PEN: Nathan Doak
Teams
Connacht:
(15-9) P O’Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Cordero; J Carty, C Blade;
(1-8) D Buckley, D Tierney-Martin,, F Bealham; J Murphy, N Murray; C Prendergast (capt), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle.
Replacements:
E De Buitlear for Tierney-Martin, 62 mins, P Dooley for Buckley 62 mins, J Aungier, Belham 62 mins, O Dowling for J Murphy 52 mins, S Jansen for O’Boyle 52 mins , B Murphy for Blade 58 mins, S Jennings for Carty 58 mins, C Oliver for Hurley-Langton 67 mins
Ulster:
(15-9) M Lowry; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, R Telfer; J Murphy, N Doak;
(1-8) E O’Sullivan, J Andrew, S Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, C Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, N Timoney (capt), J McNabney.
Replacements:
J McCormick for Andrew 66 mins A Warwick for O’Sullivan 41 mins, C Barrett for Wilson 63 mins, H Sheridan for Treadwell 68 mins, D McCann for Rea 49 mins, J Cooney, A Morgan, W De Klerk for Kok 41 mins
Ref: A Brace (IRFU)
