PA Sport Staff
A hat-trick of tries from Tom Farrell saw Munster win a scrappy opening Irish interprovincial of the festive season 22-19 over Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster, who played more than half the game reduced to 14 men after Tom O’Toole’s red card, have now lost their last five games in all competitions.
O’Toole opened the scoring on seven minutes from a tap-and-go, John Cooney converting to put the home team 7-0 ahead.
Just before the half-hour Munster struck back when centre Farrell made ground down the left and got to the line with two Ulster defenders clinging to him. Jack Crowley missed the conversion.
On 31 minutes, O’Toole was red-carded for a dangerous clear-out on Alex Nankivell. Ulster also lost Stuart McCloskey to injury just before the break, by which point they still led 7-5.
On 52 minutes, Munster had the lead when Calvin Nash combined with Farrell to put the centre clear to score his second. Crowley was again wide with the conversion.
Rory Scannell was yellow-carded on the hour and from a lineout maul Harry Sheridan scored to put Ulster back in front 12-10. Cooney’s conversion attempt hit the post.
The lead lasted all of four minutes as Shane Daly was able to gallop away down the left for Munster’s third try which put them 15-12 ahead though, once more, Crowley missed from the touchline.
Ulster came again but a penalty to the corner was snaffled by Munster, who surged downfield through Farrell.
But on 75 minutes the pressure finally told when James McNabney powered through, Cooney converting to make it 19-15.
The hosts were denied late on, though, as Farrell completed his hat-trick to win the game and earn a bonus point, the score converted by Crowley.
