On a clear evening under the lights, both sides began with a high tempo, though early exchanges were marked by handling errors as each team looked to settle. Ulster attempted to impose themselves territorially through Nathan Doak’s kicking game, while Connacht showed early ambition with ball in hand.
Ulster enjoyed promising early field position, building phases inside the Connacht half with carries from Iain Henderson and Juarno Augustus. However, Connacht’s defensive line held firm, forcing errors at crucial moments and preventing the hosts from converting pressure into points.
It was Connacht who struck first on 18 minutes. After a strong attacking sequence inside the Ulster 22, quick hands and a well-timed offload from Finlay Bealham created space for Sean Jansen to power over. Sean Naughton added the conversion to give the visitors a 7–0 lead.
Ulster responded well and found their breakthrough on 23 minutes. A superb attacking move, sparked by a powerful line break from Bryn Ward, split the Connacht defence wide open. Ward’s offload released Doak, who showed sharp footwork to evade the final defender and finish under the posts. He converted his own try to level the scores at 7–7.
The remainder of the half continued in a similarly physical fashion, with both sides trading territory and possession.
Bealham picked up a yellow card just before the half but Ulster were unable to capitalise. Big collisions dominated proceedings, while defensive efforts on both sides ensured no further scoring before the interval.
Half-time: Ulster 7 – 7 Connacht
The second half began with renewed intensity, and Ulster looked to strike early. A flowing move involving Jacob Stockdale and Werner Kok nearly produced a try, but a knock-on over the line denied Ben Carson at the crucial moment.
Connacht weathered that pressure and began to build momentum. Their persistence was rewarded on 56 minutes when, after repeated carries close to the Ulster line, Bealham powered over from short range. Naughton converted to extend the lead to 14–7.
The visitors struck again on 60 minutes. Moving the ball quickly to the edge, Connacht exploited space out wide, allowing Finn Treacy to finish in the corner. Although the conversion was missed, Connacht had opened up a 19–7 advantage.
Ulster were under pressure but responded with intent. On 63 minutes, a sharp attacking move saw Zac Ward produce a clever dummy before sprinting down the touchline to score in the corner. The conversion drifted wide, leaving the score at 19–12.
Connacht, however, responded immediately on 66 minutes to halt Ulster’s momentum. Another slick backline move created space for Treacy to grab his second try of the night, with Naughton converting to push the lead out to 26–12.
With time running out, Ulster continued to fight. Sustained pressure inside the Connacht 22 eventually told on 74 minutes when Angus Bell forced his way over after a series of close-range carries. Jack Murphy added the conversion to reduce the deficit to seven points and set up a tense finale.
Ulster pushed hard in the closing minutes, earning territory and possession deep inside Connacht’s half. However, handling errors at key moments and resolute Connacht defence prevented any further scoring opportunities.
As the clock ticked down, Connacht managed the game effectively, clearing their lines and closing out a hard-earned victory in a bruising interprovincial contest.
Full-time: Ulster 19 – 26 Connacht
While Ulster showed flashes of attacking quality and resilience, particularly in their second-half response, Connacht’s clinical finishing and ability to capitalise on key moments proved decisive. In a game dominated by physicality and intensity, it was the visitors who ultimately emerged with the points.
Scorers
Ulster:
Tries – Doak, Ward, Bell.
Cons – Doak, Murphy
Connacht:
Tries – Jansen, Bealham, Treacy (2).
Cons – Naughton (3)
Teams
Ulster:
1. Angus Bell, 2. Tom Stewart, 3. Scott Wilson, 4. Iain Henderson (Capt), 5. Joe Hopes, 6. David McCann, 7. Marcus Rea, 8. Juarno Augustus, 9. Nathan Doak, 10. Jack Murphy, 11. Zac Ward, 12. Ben Carson, 13. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Werner Kok, 15. Michael Lowry
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring, 17. Sam Crean, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Matthew Dalton, 20. Bryn Ward, 21. Conor McKee, 22. Jonny Scott, 23. Ethan McIlroy
Connacht:
15. Sean Naughton, 14. Shane Jennings, 13. Cathal Forde, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Finn Treacy, 10. Jack Carty, 9. Colm Reilly, 8. Sean Jansen, 7. Cian Prendergast (C), 6. Josh Murphy, 5. Darragh Murray, 4. Joe Joyce, 3. Finlay Bealham, 2. Dave Heffernan, 1. Billy Bohan
Replacements:
16. Matthew Victory, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Sam Illo, 19. Niall Murray, 20. Paul Boyle, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. John Devine