Ulster A travelled down to Dublin with a very strong squad with an excellent blend of youth and experience led by Head Coach Craig Newby. Experienced scrum half, Dave Shanahan led the Ulstermen out as captain as they hoped to build vital minutes of game time as the senior squad move into the play-off stages of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
The front pack was strong with Callum Reid, John Andrew and Scott Wilson packing down for Ulster. Behind them in the second row were the powerful pair of Cormac Izuchukwu and Harry Sheridan. Lorcan McLoughlin, Marcus Rea started as the flankers and Greg Jones was given the nod at 8.
Ulster's back options were equally as strong, captain Shanahan pairing with fly half Jake Flannery, who was competing against his former club. In the midfield, the experienced Ireland international Ian Madigan started alongside Angus Curtis. Aaron Sexton and Ben Moxham started on Ulster's wing positions, with Shea O'Brien starting at full back.
Ulster began the match on the front foot, pressuring the Munster backline from the whistle. Ulster made the early breakthrough after a slick attacking move saw Shea O'Brien move the ball to winger Ben Moxham who showed his quick feet to side step a Munster defender and touch down for the first try of the match. Fly half, Jake Flannery, made no mistake from the kick to send ulster seven points in front.
That lead was quickly wiped away, as Munster hit back only minutes later. Their number 10, Tony Butler, added the extras to make it level pegging at 7-7.
Ulster were then dealt an early blow with Jake Flannery being sent to the sin-bin for a tackle that the referee felt was illegal. Ulster were having to defend with 14 as Munster piled forward.
Moments after, the Ulster defence cheered as they won a vital penalty close to their 5m line. It felt like an important moment with Munster having the man advantage.
The match was being played at a ferocious pace, with both sides hitting each other with some heavy tackles as they fought for control in the match.
Ulster then had to make an early change with John Andrew coming off for Connacht bound Declan Moore.
The 14 men of Ulster scored the next try of the match, speedy winger Aaron Sexton crossing the whitewash to finishing off an attacking phase in Munster's right-hand corner to send Ulster back into the lead.
Ian Madigan did what Ian Madigan does, and sailed his kick between the posts to add the extras.
That kick ensured that Ulster went into half time 7 points to the good.
HT: 14-7
Ulster started the second half like they started the first and immediately pushed into Munster's half.
Ulster celebrated their third try of the match, coming from captain Dave Shanahan. A clever kick chase from the dangerous Sexton, forced Munster into retreat and as the ball was spilled on the ground, Shanahan was on hand to punish the Munster defence by crashing down past the whitewash.
Flannery was unable to convert the try, so the score now stood at 19-7.
Again like the first half, Munster replied almost immediately, with Butler converting to cut down Ulster's lead to 5.
Ulster then rang the changes with a raft of replacements, off came Dave Shanahan, Marcus Rea, Harry Sheridan, Scott Wilson, Callum Reid, Jake Flannery, Ben Moxham, Angus Curtis, Cormac Izuchukwu and Aaron Sexton.
On came George Saunderson, James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite, Joe Hopes, Ben Carson, Ethan Graham, Michael McDonald, Cameron Doak, Frank Bradshaw Ryan and Rory Telfer.
Then moments later, a try that put a smile on everybody in an Ulster jersey and the coaching staff. A multi-phase attacking move moved to the middle of Munster's 22 and a beautiful fizzed long pass from Ian Madigan, found academy player Ethan Graham, who raced over to score a try he will never forget.
Madigan converted the score to increase Ulster's lead.
Munster fought their way back to score another try late on but couldn't convert and by then Ulster's lead was enough to see out the win.
The win felt like an important reminder of the talent that Ulster have, as they fight for places in the first team matchday lineups.
A day to remember for some of Ulster's young players as they fought tooth and and nail against an aggressive Munster side.
FT: Ulster A 26-19 Munster A