Ulster were outscored by six tries to two, meaning Richie Murphy’s side no longer control their own playoff destiny.
The visitors silenced Thomond Park early, opening the scoring in the sixth minute. After kicking a penalty to the corner, Matty Rea secured the lineout and the forwards set up a driving maul. Following three phases, Ulster edged close to the Munster line before skipper Iain Henderson, playing his first game since January, showed skillful hands to put centre Stuart McCloskey over from close range. Jack Murphy added the conversion.
Munster responded in the 13th minute with a display of power rugby. They kicked a penalty to the corner, and from the lineout, Peter O’Mahony and Stephen Archer carried close to the line before prop Michael Milne crashed over. Jack Crowley was unable to convert.
Ulster prop Scott Wilson was sin binned in the 15th minute for a high tackle on Gavin Coombes. Despite being down to 14 men, Ulster extended their lead two minutes later as Murphy slotted a penalty.
Munster made their numerical advantage count in the 23rd minute. They spread the ball wide, and O’Mahony, receiving it on the wing, stepped inside before putting centre Tom Farrell over. Crowley again missed the conversion.
Ulster responded immediately. After turning Munster over just outside the 22, they moved the ball quickly, with Henderson flinging it wide to Jude Postlethwaite. The centre powered through full back Thaakir Abrahams to touch down in the corner, and Murphy converted from a tight angle.
The sides were level again just a minute later when Munster captain Tadhg Beirne charged down Murphy’s kick in his own 22 and gathered to cross the whitewash. This time, Crowley added the extras.
Munster secured their bonus point try in the 35th minute. Following a penalty kicked to the corner, the home forwards set up a driving maul, allowing hooker Niall Scannell to touch down. Crowley converted.
Murphy landed a penalty with the final kick of the first half to cut Munster’s lead to 24 to 20 at the break.
HT: Munster 24 - 20 Ulster
McCloskey was yellow carded in the 53rd minute for a professional foul at a ruck in his own 22. From the resulting penalty, Munster kicked to the corner. Although Ulster sacked the maul, Farrell found a gap and surged through for his second try. Crowley converted.
O’Mahony signed off at Thomond Park in style, claiming Munster’s sixth try by collecting a cross field kick from Crowley and scoring from close range. The out half added the conversion.
Ulster replacement prop Callum Reid was denied a try in the 62nd minute as he was held up over the line by Coombes.
Munster’s Josh Wycherley was yellow carded in the 68th minute, but Ulster were unable to capitalise during the 10 minute advantage.
Ulster had a couple of chances in the final 10 minutes but couldn’t cross the line again.
FT: Munster 38 - 20 Ulster
Scores
Munster
Tries: Michael Milne, Tom Farrell x2, Tadgh Beirne, Naill Scannell, Peter O’Mahony
Cons: Jack Crowley x 4
Pens
Ulster
Tries: Stuart McCloskey, Jude Postlewaite
Cons: Jack Murphy x 2
Pens: Jack Murphy x 2
Munster:
(15-9) T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey;
(1-8) M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (c); P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Replacements:
L Barron for Scannell 55 mins, J Wycherley for Milne 55 mins, J Ryan for Archer 63 mins, F Wycherley for O’Mahony 60 mins, T Ahern for Kleyn 48 mins, C Murray for Casey 66 mins, S O’Brien for Beirne 77 mins, A Kendellen for Hodnett 55 mins
Ulster
(15-9) M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Murphy, N Doak;
(1-8) A Warwick, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson (c), C Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, N Timoney, J McNabney.
Replacements:
T Stewart for Herring 60 mins, C Reid for Warwick 50 mins, T O’Toole for Wilson 53 mins, A O’Connor for Henderson 60 mins, D McCann for Rea 48 mins, D Shanahan for Doak 63 mins, S Moore for McCloskey 68 mins, W Kok for Baloucoune 60 mins
Ref: A Jones (WRU)