In an almost sold-out Kingspan Stadium, both sides lived up to the derby billing as the fans were treated to a thriller under the Friday Night Lights.
Ulster went into the match with the welcome return of Rob Herring, Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson, after their involvement in the Rugby World Cup for Ireland.
With Tom Stewart captaining the side, Herring was in-line to smash the all-time Ulster appearance record from the bench, with the hooker set for cap number 230.
Ulster faced the unbeaten regining champions with a point to prove. Last season the Munster side punished the home team with a late 14-15 smash and grab victory on New Year's Day, meaning revenge was on the cards.
The away side started off fast and forced Ulster into conceding early penalties to give them decent field position and posession. With Jack Crowley and Craig Casey, Munster were stringing the ball along nicely and went ahead just a few minutes into the match, the diminutive Casey, darting through a gap off the back of a Munster scrum. Crowley's kick added the extra two.
Ulster set off on the front foot, looking to get back into the game with some good attacking phases. Ulster full-back Ethan McIlroy went very close to getting the home side up and running but he was prevented from a try from a robust challenge from Shane Daly.
McIlroy's heavy collision wasn't pretty and it was clear he would need medical attention. The welcome sight of McIlroy walking off the pitch was a relief to the entire stadium. Daly would receive a yellow for the challenge.
From that penalty, Nathan Doak hit home a penalty to get Ulster going on the scoreboard.
Despite the man down, Munster went on the attack again and stringed together some attacking phases before Craig Casey squeezed over the line after a ruck. Crowley converted to extend Munster's lead further.
Ulster pushed forward and found a breakthrough before the half concluded. A fantastic cross-field kick from fly-half Billy Burns was met by the onrushing Jacob Stockdale, who finished off for his fourth try in three URC matches. Doak's missed conversion meant the gap at HT was six.
HT: Ulster 8-14 Munster
The home side needed a big effort in the second half, and they started off strong, with Doak opting to kick a penalty to narrow the gap down to three points.
In a ferocious match, the battle was on in the breakdown as both sides fought to grab control of the contest.
A turning point in the match was when McFarland called for his experienced internationals, with Herring and Henderson coming on to stamp their authority. The Ulster faithful clapped as Herring ensured his name would be etched in the record books, with cap number 230.
And what a contrast with his fellow replacement, Academy tighthead prop, Scott Wilson, came on with Herring to make his debut for his province.
Henderson had the home crowd off their seats when he ran a good line through Munster's 22 and offloaded to Nathan Doak, who was immediately set upon by Munster defenders.
One of the best moments of the match was the contribution by Wilson on his debut. The mullet-haired prop, showing no signs of fear as he carried the ball through Munster's halfway line, eventually earning a penalty that Nathan Doak would expertly boot between the posts. With under 20 minutes to go, it was game on at 14-14.
The home side bashed down the Munster rearguard through a scrum deep in Munster's 22, with Ulster's pack driving the away side backwards and touching down through Nick Timoney. Doak nailed his kick and for the first time in the encounter, Ulster led.
With the clock ticking, Ulster's defence was seriously tested. Wave after wave after Munster attack was thwarted by sturdy Ulster defence, the likes of Rob Herring, Dave Ewers, David McCann and Stuart McCloskey all working hard to keep the lead.
In a vital moment, up stepped Iain Henderson. Munster patiently worked the ball out the right wing and drove over the line, but not on Henderson's watch. The club captain getting his body under the ball, to make a huge hold up and prevent the try.
Moments later, cometh the hour, cometh the man, as right at the death who else but Rob Herring made a crucial turnover to end the contest and send the home crowd wild.
Ulster had done enough to hold on with their brave defending, and the roof came off as Frank Murphy blew for the full-time whistle.
The home side celebrated a huge Interpro win, which felt like a big moment in the early stage of the season.
Rob Herring celebrated his outstanding record-breaking achievement with his daughter on the pitch to mark a landmark moment with a massive win.
FT Ulster 21-14 Munster
BKT URC Player of the Match
David McCann - another top performance from McCann, who impresses each week in the back row, with his defensive work, powerful carries and work in the breakdown. Two big lineout steals in the second half helped shift momentum at a vital time for his side.
Post Match Reaction
Big win chat with Dan 🎤 pic.twitter.com/PzNXPpjlZZ
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) November 10, 2023
Scorers
Ulster:
TRY: Stockdale, Timoney
CON: Doak x1
PEN: Doak x3
Munster:
TRY: Casey x2
CON: Crowley x2
Team
Ulster:
15-9: Ethan McIlroy (Postlethwaite), Rob Baloucoune, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns (Flannery), Nathan Doak (Cooney);
1-8: Eric O'Sullivan, Tom Stewart (capt) (Herring), Greg McGrath (Wilson); Cormac Izuchukwu (Henderson), Kieran Treadwell; David McCann, Marcus Rea (Ewers), Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson, Dave Ewers, John Cooney, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite.
Munster:
15-9: Shane Daly, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey;
1-8: Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Ben O’Connor.