Munster 64 Ulster 7

Ulster’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end against a very strong Munster side at Thomond Park in the first inter-provincial derby of the new campaign. It took the home side just five minutes to break the deadlock. Alby Matthewson launched a counter attack from a scrum, Rory Scannell’s kick ricocheted into Andrew Conway’s hands and he put Alex Wootton into space. The winger carried into the 22 and drew the last defender before putting centre Dan Goggin in under the posts. Joey Carbery converted for a 7-0 lead. Munster struck again three minutes later. With the Ulster defence all lined up on the open side, Matthewson hit Tommy O’Donnell on the blind side and the Irish flanker was able to power through and sprint over from 30 metres out. Carbery again added the conversion. Peter O’Mahony’s breakdown turnover earned the home side a penalty and Carbery extended Munster’s lead with the resultant kick from 40 metres out. Ulster wasted their first opportunity to put points on the board after Stephen Archer conceded a penalty; the visitors went to the corner but Munster were able to steal the lineout. O’Donnell got his second try on 31 minutes as a Billy Holland lineout win set up an effective driving maul and the loose forward was the beneficiary. Carbery’s conversion attempt struck the post. Munster’s bonus point try arrived three minutes before the break. They kicked the ball to the corner, and while Ulster defended the maul well, the hosts patiently worked the ball through a number of phases before it was spread wide and Goggin strolled over. Carbery’s conversion gave Munster a 29-0 lead at the interval. Ulster started the second half with more purpose and Darren Cave got his side’s only try of the game in the 46th minute. The forwards worked the ball through a number of phases, with captain Alan O’Connor having a couple of probing runs, and Cave profited from a gap in the Munster defence to dart through. Billy Burns converted. Munster responded five minutes later through captain Peter O’Mahony. Wootton was stopped just short of the try line but the ball was then moved across the pitch and Carbery floated a long pass for his skipper to touch down in the corner. The Irish outhalf converted from the touchline to extend the Munster lead to 36-7. Shortly after, Carbery started and finished the move of the match as Munster won turnover ball in their own 22 and spun it wide. The outhalf fed Goggin and the in-form centre put Wootton clear before he threw the ball back inside for Carbery to side step the last defender and race over. Sammy Arnold scored against his old province in the 67th minute as Wootton put in a grubber kick for the replacement centre to pounce on. Ian Keatley’s conversion brought up Munster’s half century. Keith Earls crossed for Munster’s ninth try, which Keatley converted, and Wootton completed the scoring as he went over from Keatley’s looping pass. The latter added another conversion.