While the hosts were second best for much of the game, the Ulster coaching staff will draw plenty of positives from a spirited second half performance.
The damage was in the first half as the visitors scored three tries to earn a 17 point advantage at the break. An early penalty from Ger Rea fell short but the awkward bounce allowed the onrushing Debhile Nic A Bhaird to collect and carry Munster to within ten metres of the try line. A couple of forward drives created space for Ireland prop Fiona Hayes to crash over and the impressive Rea made no mistake with the conversion.
They continued in the ascendancy and Ulster were soon down to 14 players when hooker Lesley Megarity was sin binned for a ruck infringement. The visitors took immediate advantage, executing a neat backline move to allow left wing Ashling Hutchings to score in the corner. Rea’s missed kick left the scoreboard reading 0-12 after 15 minutes.
Ulster threatened at times but Munster added a third try on the half hour mark. Rea, playing at outside centre, made the initial dent in the defence with a midfield burst before numerous phases stretched the home defence. Nic A Bhaird was on hand to finish off a sweeping move to extend the lead to 0-17.
Jemma Jackson had an opportunity to reduce the deficit by three points just before the interval but her shot at goal drifted to the left of the uprights.
Munster got their fourth try shortly after the break when some poor Ulster defence on the blindside allowed Gerda Coyne to break free and touch down in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed by Rea but her side now had a 0-22 lead.
Ulster grew into the game in the final quarter and almost scored on a couple of occasions, with the sustained pressure leading to a yellow card for Munster replacement Mollie O’Donnell ten minutes from the end.
The hosts controlled possession for the remainder of the game but were unable to penetrate the Munster defence, despite some promising moments from Peita McAlister and Emma Jordan.
A good second half display from the young Ulster team will give them much hope going into next Saturday's battle with Connacht at the Sportsground, before they face off against Leinster the following week.