JJ HANRAHAN HAD a late effort to steal the victory for Munster, but in truth that would have meant the better side losing.
Ulster’s team selection this week was questioned, as Mark Anscombe opted to give some of this fringe players and youngsters a start in Thomond Park. How those same players stepped up to the mark in Limerick though, fighting for every scrap against more experienced opponents.
Rob Penney will trust in his side’s ability to motivate themselves for the biggest occasions as they face into a semi-final against the ominously in-form Glasgow next weekend. If Munster’s abject physical and technical performance of tonight is repeated in Scotstoun, they will exit the competition.
21-year-old centre Stuart McCloskey, recently named the province’s Academy Player of the Year, was impressive for Ulster alongside Michael Allen in midfield, while out-half James McKinney, destined for the Rotherham Titans next season, was composed in all aspects of play.
In the scrum, Andrew Warwick provided another promising display, while Michael Heaney was sharp at scrum-half.
However, picking out individuals is folly after a rounded team performance full of in-contact aggression and smart tactical play. While Anscombe’s starting XV will be very different for next weekend’s clash with Leinster, this is a major confidence boost for the squad.
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Ulster were initially rocked by a strong opening quarter from the home side, with Ian Keatley slotting an 11th-minute penalty and then scrum-half Duncan Williams crossing after smart play from Casey Laulala, Keatley, James Downey and James Coughlan.
Keatley’s conversion left Munster 10-0 to the good after just 16 minute, but Ulster found an instantaneous reply through the try of lively number nine Heaney.
Darting down the vacated blindside from a ruck just inside the Munster half, the 23-year-old exchanged passes with wing Michael Allen and stretched over despite the despairing tackles of Laulala and Felix Jones.
McKinney converted and at 10-7 Ulster took confidence, growing into the game through their physical defence and probing attacking surges. A penalty from the out-half just before the break left the scores tied at 10-10 heading into the second half.
Again, Munster started strongly, powering into a promising position, before a moment of quality from Ian Keatley allowed Sean Dougall to score.
The Munster playmaker prodded a grubber in behind the Ulster defence, and with the ball bobbling towards the in-goal area, Dougall was sharpest in reacting and scooping the pill before dotting down.
Keatley promptly converted on the 50 minute mark, but that was to be the final score of the game for Penney’s side. McKinney held his nerve with two further penalty attempts in the blustery conditions, squeezing Ulster ahead with 15 minutes remaining.
From there, Anscombe’s charges dealt with everything Munster threw at them, until the very death, when hands in the scrum allowed Hanrahan a shot at goal from the halfway line.
The replacement out-half drilled his effort wide to the left and Ulster’s celebrations erupted. A knee injury to Nick Williams was the only major blot on the night.
Munster scorers:
Tries: D Williams, S Dougall
Conversions: I Keatley [2]
Penalty: I Keatley
Ulster scorers:
Try: M Heaney
Conversion: J McKinney
Penalties: J McKinney [4]
MUNSTER: Felix Jones, Gerhard Van Den Heever, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley (JJ Hanrahan), Duncan Williams (Conor Murray); Dave Kilcoyne (James Cronin), Damien Varley (capt.), John Ryan; Dave Foley (Billy Holland), Paul O’Connell; Paddy Butler, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan (Tommy O’Donnell).
Replacements not used: Quentin MacDonald, Alan Cotter.
ULSTER: Craig Gilroy; David McIlwaine, Mike Allen, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes; James McKinney, Michael Heaney (David Shanahan); Callum Black, Rob Herring (Kyle McCall), Andrew Warwick (Adam Macklin); Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy (capt.) (Neil McComb); Mike McComish, Sean Doyle, Nick Williams (Conor Joyce).
Replacements not used: Bronson Ross, Ricky Andrew, Peter Nelson.
Season ticket holder since they started selling them, was watching them before you were born when they had only 500 people on the sideline and I was there tonight as I have been at every home match this season last season etc etc etc… were you… I have never seen them play so badly… so fukoff
You really are an idiot.. I will spell it out in simple words with big letters…. die hard fans were very upset about the way Munster played today so upset that they wonder what the hell is going on and asking in a sardonic way if they should sell the family silver… 455wipe
That’s the first time I left thomond park embarrassed to be a Munster fan .Shocking performance desperate scrum & Jj s dropgoal pathetic . Well done ulster .Axle u have some job on ur hands
As a Munster fan, I’m getting sick of this “wait and see the reaction next week” attitude after a pathetic performance, tonight should have been a routine win over a seriously depleted side.
Munster were just too inaccurate and clumsy, knock ons and missed chances everywhere. Ulster’s tenacity at the breakdown in general play, despite playing an inexperienced XV was just too much for a lacklustre Munster. Well done Ulster.
Having coached in the domestic game in munster and supported for decades it was shameful . Wheres the pride ? to let it go against a self acknowledged weakend side. To the brave n faithful ? seems like just talk.. Get a grip lads. Well done ulster well played and congratulations.
People are forever banging on about this great Munster support, it is evident in the HCup but there attendances have been shocking in the Pro 12 the last few years, it’s like they’ve got too big for their boots. I’m not havin a cheap shot, Munster were/are everyone else’s second team. Ulster got a full house every game this year bar 2, Leinster always have 15,000/20,000 and Connacht (although smaller) are at least full every game. The whole Thomond being a big stadium is a lame excuse, 26,000 isn’t that big. It’s a pity, hopefully there supporters but back into it soon and do justice to the league, their team and their stadium.
Yes but they actually do attend at the other provinces where there are very few empty seats. I agree with your comment about the attendance on the Rabo site, both terraces were closed and the seated section of both stands were practically empty. A bit above 5,000 were there IMO. Have you noticed the seats in the stadium are all different colours? This is to give the effect that they’re are people sitting in them to the TV cameras, a sad truth, but a fact I’m afraid.
Often see empty seats at the rds, albeit not to the same extent, but it is definitely not always a full house. I very much doubt whether ulster or Connacht are either. The attendances are exaggerated all round. I wonder why that is. Interesting point about the speckled seating. The rabo badly needs the welsh regions to get the finger out and retain their stars because as a product it is struggling.
A full strength ulster team would have flattened munster fair play to the ulster lads though great performance terrible night for munster but wait and see next week there will be a reaction
I think if there’d been a full strength Ulster team then we would have seen a completely different Munster performance. As a Leinster fan, we were just as bad tonight, but I’d much rather face Ulster in the final then Munster. Munster are a big game team, Ulster are just bottles.
You scraped a win against Edinburgh with pretty much your first team tonight. Everyone wrote us off against Munster tonight, be careful what you wish for…;)
As bad as Munster were tonight, just wait and see the reaction we get next week against Glasgow. A wounded and embarrassed Munster is a deadly animal. Iv no doubt itl still be a Leinster Munster final.
Why can’t Munster play with any bit of consistency. Brilliant one week and dismal the next. They were pathetic tonight.
I never left thomand so ashamed.
Never been sure why paddy butler is so highly rated in Munster, he is shocking. Munster are in a bad way. Penny has made the most of a really average team.
The Munster passion seems to be gone.
The turnout was poor because the product is continually poor. If the Munster players don’t show an interest in the Pro 12 you can’t expect the fans to.
To have lost at home to Glasgow and a 2nd string Ulster in the space if a few weeks is pathetic.
Its ok though – they got their annual ‘brave and honourable’ defeat in Europe and that’s all that matters.
Looked a very small crowd, watch the official attendance will be way more then turned up, they count season tickets as being in attendance whether they bother to turn up or not.
The regression continues. Each season now Munster in steep decline, as with the other provinces bar Ulster. Now I don’t know who’s worse Hanrahan or Keatley? ROG is cringing somewhere.
He has a point though, the self proclaimed ‘best fans in the world’ are conspicuous by their absence, in large numbers, for rabo matches. Typical irish sports fans really, only interested in the craic of the big matches & then declare themselves great fans.
As a non Munster man, listening to thinks like”Foley has some job to do” I find it nonsensical.. Clearly poor performance tonight from Munster but good season overall..great display in the heino to only lose out to a powerhouse Toulon team. In my view well capable of doing one over on Glasgow. Shame really that Penney is leaving ( think with one more year with him at the helm Munster could accomplish great things), but Foley well capable replacement. Munster my choice for rabo champions!
Very hard to take these “die hard” Munster fans seriously when they can’t even spell the managers name….. It’s Rob Penney!! Munster were poor tonight, simple reason was they knew it was Glasgow away next week, that was never going to change! As for being ashamed and embarrassed… Maybe ye should support some other team..
Spelling isnt the issue nor is it a surprise that supporters get emotionally tied to their teams lack of performance. I think there is an issue that its ok to lose one week because of a bigger match the next. The accusation by English teams of the Rabo player rest option was one key to their arguments re need to change HC. Team expectation changes as a shirt, Its personal ownership , responsibility etc isnt yours because individual performance is no longer the overriding strategic choice. Poc mentioned in a recent article that playing regularly and more often was beneficial. Quel surprise. And as for attendance I agree, Local clubs parcel tickets out for a french jolly to those who can afford it. but then again limerick is some distance from the farther reaches of East Munster (yes it does exist;)). The road from Waterford not great when stuck behind a tractor in Tipp. However motivation seems to be lacking from all parts .
Munster made too many mistakes, No complaints about the loss….Well done to Ulster, An aggressive, passionate performance by a team with a point to prov. Roll on next weekend
Young Ulster beats Old Munster – it is as simple as that. Let us hope that last night’s defeat is a wake up call for Munster and Ireland and more is done to develop young Irish players like those that played so well for Ulster last night. Munster needs to stop relying on past glories and look to the future and not back. That means playing more players in their early twenties and relying less on players in their thirties.
Munster made 2 many errors. Well done 2 Ulster, an aggressive & passionate performance by men with a point to prove. Roll on next weekend. Pat, Munster Fan.
a few aspects from last night. the crowd was abysmal and a big worry going forward. game skills from jj very poor it came to penalty and drop goal efforts. not good enough for a professional. centres very poor no cutting there. back three very ordinary and zebo looks unfit with a fat arse on him. tough times ahead on all fronts.
Professional rugby players must always give 100% commitment regardless of the opposition or the consequences of the result. Supporters travel long distances and pay good money to attend matches. Munster tonight were a disgrace. A number of players not good enough at this level. It still amazes me that Peter Stringer was considered to be surplus to requirements 2 years ago. I hope Axel can instill the fortress mentality in every member of the squad next year.
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As a munster fan that was enbarrassing , shocking. Ulster deserved it
Munster were dire tonight… anyone want a 2014/ 2015 season ticket
Fairweather
Season ticket holder since they started selling them, was watching them before you were born when they had only 500 people on the sideline and I was there tonight as I have been at every home match this season last season etc etc etc… were you… I have never seen them play so badly… so fukoff
Then don’t start trying to ditch your next season ticket, stand up for your team win or lose
You really are an idiot.. I will spell it out in simple words with big letters…. die hard fans were very upset about the way Munster played today so upset that they wonder what the hell is going on and asking in a sardonic way if they should sell the family silver… 455wipe
Hey Sean, do you need a hug
As an ulster fan HAHA!!
Classy as ever neenee
That’s the first time I left thomond park embarrassed to be a Munster fan .Shocking performance desperate scrum & Jj s dropgoal pathetic . Well done ulster .Axle u have some job on ur hands
As a Munster fan, I’m getting sick of this “wait and see the reaction next week” attitude after a pathetic performance, tonight should have been a routine win over a seriously depleted side.
Munster were just too inaccurate and clumsy, knock ons and missed chances everywhere. Ulster’s tenacity at the breakdown in general play, despite playing an inexperienced XV was just too much for a lacklustre Munster. Well done Ulster.
They couldn’t catch a cold tonight
Munster have a lot to do this week if they want to win in Glasgow. Shocking performance. Their form in the Rabo has been shocking since Feb/Mar.
Having coached in the domestic game in munster and supported for decades it was shameful . Wheres the pride ? to let it go against a self acknowledged weakend side. To the brave n faithful ? seems like just talk.. Get a grip lads. Well done ulster well played and congratulations.
People are forever banging on about this great Munster support, it is evident in the HCup but there attendances have been shocking in the Pro 12 the last few years, it’s like they’ve got too big for their boots. I’m not havin a cheap shot, Munster were/are everyone else’s second team. Ulster got a full house every game this year bar 2, Leinster always have 15,000/20,000 and Connacht (although smaller) are at least full every game. The whole Thomond being a big stadium is a lame excuse, 26,000 isn’t that big. It’s a pity, hopefully there supporters but back into it soon and do justice to the league, their team and their stadium.
The official attendances for all the provinces are fudged to include season ticket holders, even if they don’t attend.
Yes but they actually do attend at the other provinces where there are very few empty seats. I agree with your comment about the attendance on the Rabo site, both terraces were closed and the seated section of both stands were practically empty. A bit above 5,000 were there IMO. Have you noticed the seats in the stadium are all different colours? This is to give the effect that they’re are people sitting in them to the TV cameras, a sad truth, but a fact I’m afraid.
Often see empty seats at the rds, albeit not to the same extent, but it is definitely not always a full house. I very much doubt whether ulster or Connacht are either. The attendances are exaggerated all round. I wonder why that is. Interesting point about the speckled seating. The rabo badly needs the welsh regions to get the finger out and retain their stars because as a product it is struggling.
A full strength ulster team would have flattened munster fair play to the ulster lads though great performance terrible night for munster but wait and see next week there will be a reaction
I think if there’d been a full strength Ulster team then we would have seen a completely different Munster performance. As a Leinster fan, we were just as bad tonight, but I’d much rather face Ulster in the final then Munster. Munster are a big game team, Ulster are just bottles.
You scraped a win against Edinburgh with pretty much your first team tonight. Everyone wrote us off against Munster tonight, be careful what you wish for…;)
It was a tough 80 minuted to sit through in a baltic miserable Thomond park….. Felt like watching an average AIL game out there!
As bad as Munster were tonight, just wait and see the reaction we get next week against Glasgow. A wounded and embarrassed Munster is a deadly animal. Iv no doubt itl still be a Leinster Munster final.
Why can’t Munster play with any bit of consistency. Brilliant one week and dismal the next. They were pathetic tonight.
I never left thomand so ashamed.
Never been sure why paddy butler is so highly rated in Munster, he is shocking. Munster are in a bad way. Penny has made the most of a really average team.
The Munster passion seems to be gone.
Because so much of their game is based on passion & commitment, it’s impossible to raise yourself like that week in week out.
Was at the game and the standard was awful, very few people in Thomond Park. I’m worried.
Was there myself too, turnout was poor now. The same fixture is a sell out every New Years.
The turnout was poor because the product is continually poor. If the Munster players don’t show an interest in the Pro 12 you can’t expect the fans to.
To have lost at home to Glasgow and a 2nd string Ulster in the space if a few weeks is pathetic.
Its ok though – they got their annual ‘brave and honourable’ defeat in Europe and that’s all that matters.
Looked a very small crowd, watch the official attendance will be way more then turned up, they count season tickets as being in attendance whether they bother to turn up or not.
Attendance given on the rabo site as 16,000 … What a laugh.
The regression continues. Each season now Munster in steep decline, as with the other provinces bar Ulster. Now I don’t know who’s worse Hanrahan or Keatley? ROG is cringing somewhere.
Keats was alright tonight I thought
Better than at Ravenhill at least haha
2 x Heineken semis in a row all the same lads
Semis ….?? That’s the measure of your success …! No one remembers who was in the semis !! Still living the 2008 dream !
I see no shame in two heino semis. dope.
Keatley played well enough tonight.. Williams was awful
For PJ
No sign of the Munster fair weather supporters tonight !!!! To the brave and the faithfull me bol#icks !!
Troll.
He has a point though, the self proclaimed ‘best fans in the world’ are conspicuous by their absence, in large numbers, for rabo matches. Typical irish sports fans really, only interested in the craic of the big matches & then declare themselves great fans.
Why didn’t Munster take the 3 points on offer in front of the post with 10 minutes to go rather than the scrum? Penney will be absolutely no loss
Penny no loss – fool!
Terrible captain thats why!
Anyone know why POC isn’t captain weird choice penny seems to be picking varley and Coughlan over him
Varley IMO is poor to average as a player and very poor as captain
Varley had a shocker with the darts
Nothing to do with Penney… 100% Varley
POC is Ireland captain
As a non Munster man, listening to thinks like”Foley has some job to do” I find it nonsensical.. Clearly poor performance tonight from Munster but good season overall..great display in the heino to only lose out to a powerhouse Toulon team. In my view well capable of doing one over on Glasgow. Shame really that Penney is leaving ( think with one more year with him at the helm Munster could accomplish great things), but Foley well capable replacement. Munster my choice for rabo champions!
Very hard to take these “die hard” Munster fans seriously when they can’t even spell the managers name….. It’s Rob Penney!! Munster were poor tonight, simple reason was they knew it was Glasgow away next week, that was never going to change! As for being ashamed and embarrassed… Maybe ye should support some other team..
shocking !!
Spelling isnt the issue nor is it a surprise that supporters get emotionally tied to their teams lack of performance. I think there is an issue that its ok to lose one week because of a bigger match the next. The accusation by English teams of the Rabo player rest option was one key to their arguments re need to change HC. Team expectation changes as a shirt, Its personal ownership , responsibility etc isnt yours because individual performance is no longer the overriding strategic choice. Poc mentioned in a recent article that playing regularly and more often was beneficial. Quel surprise. And as for attendance I agree, Local clubs parcel tickets out for a french jolly to those who can afford it. but then again limerick is some distance from the farther reaches of East Munster (yes it does exist;)). The road from Waterford not great when stuck behind a tractor in Tipp. However motivation seems to be lacking from all parts .
SUFTUM
Munster made too many mistakes, No complaints about the loss….Well done to Ulster, An aggressive, passionate performance by a team with a point to prov. Roll on next weekend
Bit of a reality check for muster! Hopefully foley does a better job
Young Ulster beats Old Munster – it is as simple as that. Let us hope that last night’s defeat is a wake up call for Munster and Ireland and more is done to develop young Irish players like those that played so well for Ulster last night. Munster needs to stop relying on past glories and look to the future and not back. That means playing more players in their early twenties and relying less on players in their thirties.
if anyone was watching Glasgow racking up a bonus point with 4 tries in 20 minutes tonight, Munster fans should be very nervous.
Fair play ulster well deserved and very promising for the future of both ulster and Ireland
Munster have to respond now and put the tournament favourites Glasgow to the sword
Major MUNSTER fan here but tonight was embarrassing they never showed up no physical effort what so ever
Munster made 2 many errors. Well done 2 Ulster, an aggressive & passionate performance by men with a point to prove. Roll on next weekend. Pat, Munster Fan.
a few aspects from last night. the crowd was abysmal and a big worry going forward. game skills from jj very poor it came to penalty and drop goal efforts. not good enough for a professional. centres very poor no cutting there. back three very ordinary and zebo looks unfit with a fat arse on him. tough times ahead on all fronts.
Professional rugby players must always give 100% commitment regardless of the opposition or the consequences of the result. Supporters travel long distances and pay good money to attend matches. Munster tonight were a disgrace. A number of players not good enough at this level. It still amazes me that Peter Stringer was considered to be surplus to requirements 2 years ago. I hope Axel can instill the fortress mentality in every member of the squad next year.
No mention of Munsters last minute botched drop goal attempt in front of posts Murray?
Tut tut….!
So Journal it’s ok to slag Munster Leinster & Connaught but Ulster are off limits! Is this Journal policy or part if the Good Friday Agreement??
Tyler Bleyendaal is a great signing for Munster