Tom Farrell inspires Munster to dramatic victory over Ulster
Summer signing Farrell struck in the 79th minute to win it after home sub James McNabney thought he had clinched an heroic victory for the hosts at Kingspan Stadium
Ulster 19-22
Tom Farrell's hat-trick was just enough for Munster to beat 14-man Ulster's onslaught in a dramatic finale.
Summer signing Farrell struck in the 79th minute to win it after home sub James McNabney thought he had clinched an heroic victory for the hosts at Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster lost try scorer Tom O'Toole to a red card for his dangerous challenge on Alex Nankivell at a 32nd minute ruck.
For long periods after it felt as though it was Munster who were down a player. But the Reds successfully defended their line time after time and it was Ulster who were left to reflect on a fifth defeat in a row.
"We knew we had time," said Farrell. "We had three or four minutes and we knew we could break them down, and unfortunately for them it opened up when they had a man down (injured)."
It's a big victory for the Reds after their loss in Castres last week - and with Leinster to come at Thomond Park after Christmas.
Munster coughed up four quick-fire penalties as Ulster started confidently and the hosts came close before O'Toole got over in the eighth minute, with John Cooney adding the extras.
The Reds' woes were compounded by skipper Jack O'Donoghue straying offside from the restart, then Crowley failed to find touch in Ulster's 22 with his first penalty of the game - a repeat of his last kick in Castres.
It looked like more trouble for the Reds when Crowley was pinged for obstructing Werner Kok and Ulster were back in the visitors' 22.
But phase after phase - 26 in total - failed to gain them further momentum. Munster cleared when Alan O'Sullivan was penalised at the breakdown.
Ulster winger Zac Ward limped off with an ankle injury in the 27th minute and, less than a minute later, Munster had a try of their own.
The Reds' backline was at its best when Shane Daly's offload released Farrell and the summer signing held off two tacklers to get over, with Crowley missing the conversion.
O'Toole's dismissal soon followed and Nankivell, his victim, only lasted four minutes longer before his injury-forced departure, while Ulster lost Stuart McCloskey before the break.
Crowley came alive in the third quarter but it was Mike Haley who created Munster's second try in the 52nd minute. The full-back attacked the right side with Calvin Nash before Haley sent Farrell clear for his second try and fifth of the season.
Crowley was again off-target with the conversion and the contest sparked fully into life as Ulster responded only to be held up three times over the Reds' line.
But the hosts kept coming as Munster lost Rory Scannell to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.
Sub Harry Sheridan cleverly changed direction to score from close in on 65 minutes, with Cooney striking the upright with the conversion attempt.
It took less than two minutes for Munster to strike back to regain the lead. Brian Gleeson brilliantly found Calvin Nash and he sent Daly away to score.
Crowley missed from the tee again and Ulster roared back, coming close yet again before McNabney dove over in the 77th minute and Cooney made it 19-15.
Yet Munster, and Farrell, were not to be denied as he charged in for his third. Crowley split the posts to finish it.
Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey (J Murphy 39), Z Ward (R Telfer 26) (S Wilson 34), A Morgan, J Cooney; A Warwick (E O’Sullivan 63), R Herring (J Andrew 58), T O’Toole; A O’Connor, K Treadwell (H Sheridan 61), J McNabney, Marcus Rea (Matty Rea 68), D McCann.
Munster: M Haley, C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell (R Scannell 34), S Daly, J Crowley, P Patterson (E Coughlan 45-58, 68); J Ryan (D Kilcoyne 49-68), N Scannell, S Archer (O Jager 49), T Ahern, F Wycherley (B Gleeson 60), J O’Donoghue (E O’Connell 49), J Hodnett (A Kendellen 58), G Coombes.
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