Both sides enjoyed periods of possession in a cagey start to the match. Ulster were showing a sturdy defence and prevented Munster from building any dangerous attacks in the Ulster half.
The home province put the first points on the board after Ulster gave away a penalty in their half, with the Munster fly half, Shane Airey, putting the home side three points up with his accurate kick between the posts.
However, minutes later, Ulster responded after working a lovely flowing attack involving the backs in the Munster 22.
After good work from captain, Joel McBride, the ball was worked wide with full-back Michael Orr popping it off to fly-half, Eddie Keys, who then fired a pass out to wing, Killéne Thornton, who had the pace to beat the Munster defenders and finish well for the opening try of the afternoon.
Keys converted the try to send the Ulster men into a 3-7 lead.
Ulster scored their second try of the half, after a sensational bit of play from Michael Orr, who broke the Munster line and drew in the Munster defenders, before firing out a pass to Killéne Thornton, who was free on the right wing. The City of Derry RFC man raced clear for his second of the half.
Keys’ kick was wide of the posts. Mike Orchin McKeever will have been pleased with the defensive grit shown, as Ulster defended a number of Munster phases in the minutes after the try.
At half-time it was a well-deserved lead, with the score at 3-12.
HT: Munster Juniors 3-12 Ulster Juniors
With both sides enjoying some early possession after the restart, it was Munster that drove forward to try and get themselves back into the contest.
A knock on from Munster close to the away side’s tryline had looked to relieve some of the pressure, however Munster had been strong in the scrum all match and got the better of Ulster from the resulting scrum penalty.
Ulster continued to defend the Munster phases, however a penalty try was awarded after a series of penalties were conceded by Ulster. A yellow card was shown to tighthead prop, Matthew Graham.
The penalty try narrowed the score to 10-12.
Despite the player disadvantage, Ulster rallied quickly with Eddie Keys nailing a penalty for Ulster in the Munster half to extend the lead to five points at 10-15.
The 14 men of Ulster continued to do good work on both sides of the ball and made a vital score through flanker, Aaron Playfair.
After a fantastic effort from McBride, Ulster were awarded the penalty and went to the corner.
Following a well worked lineout at the Munster 5m line, the ball was worked to Playfair, who spun his way around the Munster contact to get the ball down for Ulster’s third try of the contest. Keys nailed the kick from distance to give Ulster a 10-22 lead.
Ulster then celebrated a well-deserved bonus point try from Portadown RFC man, Michael Orr, who had been a constant threat all game. The full-back dotted it down in the corner, after a great pass out wide from McBride near the Munster whitewash. The conversion was wide from replacement, Matthew McDowell, so the scoreline was a comfortable 10-27 to the away side.
McKeever will have been delighted with the defensive work of his side, as the forwards backed up the team's attacking play with a stubborn rearguard display. Two lineout steals in the second half felt like big moments in the game as Munster pressed.
Ulster defended well in the closing stages and prevented munster from scoring a losing bonus-point.
Two wins from two for Ulster Juniors who face Leinster Juniors next week, aiming for a clean sweep and to take home the championship series victory.
FT: Munster Juniors 10-27 Ulster Juniors
Scorers
Munster Juniors
TRY: Penalty Try
Pen: Airey x1
Ulster Juniors
TRY: Thornton x2, Playfair, Orr
CON: Keys x3
PEN: Keys
Ulster Juniors
(1-8) Adam Hanna (Dromore RFC), Matthew Coulter (Ballyclare RFC), Matthew Graham (Enniskillen RFC), David Brown (Ballymoney RFC), James Wright (Portadown RFC), Aaron Playfair (Ballyclare RFC), Curtis Pollock (Ballymoney RFC), Stephen Corr (City of Derry RFC)
(15-9) Ryan McIlwaine (Ballyclare RFC), Eddie Keys (Enniskillen RFC), Andy McMurray (Cooke RFC), Dean Dillon (Dromore RFC), Joel McBride (Ballyclare RFC), Killéne Thornton (City of Derry RFC), Michael Orr (Portadown RFC)
Replacements: Gus Cunningham (Lurgan RFC), Dean Jones (Ballyclare RFC), Scott Gamble (Ballymoney RFC), Angus Keys (Enniskillen RFC), Luke McIlwrath (Ballyclare RFC),Damo Kitchen (CIYMS RFC), Ryan Flavell (Cooke RFC), Matthew McDowell (Ballyclare RFC)