Full time! Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Connacht nearly run in a try but that sums up the game as handling goes against them. Ulster kick it out and that is a huge win.
Ireland
Connacht v Ulster recap: Score and result from URC clash
Ulster battled to a 17-7 victory over an experienced Connacht side.
Ulster ended a five-match losing run in all competitions with a dogged 17-7 United Rugby Championship win at Connacht.
Without an away victory since last May, a converted Eric O’Sullivan try and a Nathan Doak penalty had injury-hit Ulster leading 10-7 at half-time, with Mack Hansen crossing for Connacht.
Nick Timoney, Ulster’s stand-in captain and player-of-the-match, then forced his way over from a 54th-minute maul, condemning error-strewn Connacht to their seventh straight interprovincial derby defeat.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy handed first starts to his 20-year-old son Jack, whose older brother Ben came off the Connacht bench in the second half, and Rory Telfer.
Both sides were forced into late changes to their line-ups, with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Niall Murray drafted in for Connacht and Kieran Treadwell and John Andrew brought in for the visitors.
James McNabney and Ben Carson stood out during a strong start from Ulster, who pressed initially from a Jack Murphy 50:22 kick. The pressure told when prop O’Sullivan crashed over beside the posts, giving Doak a simple conversion.
A bustling break from McNabney led to Doak extending the lead to 10 points, before Connacht slowly made gains.
Finlay Bealham ensured the hosts’ scrum got on top but they remained scoreless until the 35th minute.
Jack Carty used a penalty advantage to chip into the Ulster 22, and with the ball bouncing loose off Michael Lowry, the inrushing Hansen gleefully accepted the gift.
Ulster’s impressive work-rate was rewarded during a tight third quarter. Successive penalties gave them a shot at the posts, but they turned it down and Timoney burrowed over from a well-directed maul, with Doak also adding the extras.
Although Bundee Aki and replacement Sean Jansen’s direct running was having an impact, Connacht’s handling errors increased. They also suffered a maul turnover and Cathal Forde kicked a subsequent penalty dead.
Ulster earned important late penalties in defence – via a five-metre scrum and from a terrier-like Timoney at the breakdown – as the hosts lost successive league matches in Galway for the first time since May 2021.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Ulster nearly end the game with a try from senior debutante Jack Murphy. Connacht win a penalty but time is against them and they are at the wrong end of the pitch.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Five-metre scrum in favour of Connacht but Ulster win the penalty, huge drive. That is surely that.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Much needed penalty for Connacht. They win the line out but know they need a score very soon. Mack Hansen with a kick and chase and similar to his try, it very nearly ends up in his favour.
It's a five-metre scrum for Connacht.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Good chance here for Connacht as Nathan Doak fails to gather the ball and puts it into touch inside the 22. The maul goes forward and Connacht need something to happen but Ulster win a free-kick. Seems like it is going to be their day.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-17 Ulster
Ulster doing all the right things here when it matters snuffing out some more Connacht pressure. The hosts need a score soon as the clock approaches 65.
Darragh Culhane
TRY! Connacht 7-15 Ulster
Ulster win a penalty close to the try line but opt to kick for the corner. They win the line out and get over the try line! It's Nick Timoney and that is a huge moment of the game.
Darragh Culhane
Back underway!
Back underway in Galway. Couple of big tackles to start the half but the gap still three.
Darragh Culhane
Half time! Connacht 7-10 Ulster
Half time in Galway as Connacht trail by 3. Lacklustre first half all things said. The hosts will be delighted with their late try.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 7-10 Ulster
A try out of nowhere. A dink kick into Ulster territory and their defence doesn't deal with it. Mack Hansen is there and goes in under the posts and an easy conversion. Game on.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-10 Ulster
Poor from Connacht as Ulster get the ball after the line up and clear their lines.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-10 Ulster
Just passing the half-hour mark and Connacht hoping to get something going. A much-needed penalty goes their way to gain territory but Ulster's defence is stout. They win a scrum and then a penalty. Great chance at points here but they kick for the corner.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-10 Ulster
A blistering break from Ulster and Connacht are forced to concede a penalty right in front of goal.
Nathan Doak slots the points.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-7 Ulster
Try for Ulster there. Constant pressure before the Connacht defence breaks. The points after are slotted. Eric O'Sullivan the try scorer.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-0 Ulster
Some good physical play from Ulster to get some good gains in the 22 and another effort to get near the try line but Connacht win a timely turnover before the ball is grounded. It's a five metre scrum to Ulster.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-0 Ulster
Some good play by Ulster but Bundee Aki does brilliant in the ruck to win a penalty and they clear their lines.
Darragh Culhane
Connacht 0-0 Ulster
Nice start from Connacht with some slick attacking but it's Bundee Aki of all people who spills the ball and Ulster take full advantage kicking a 50-22.
Darragh Culhane
Team News
Connacht: Piers O'Conor; Mack Hansen, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.
Replacement: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Sean Jansen, Ben Murphy, Shane Jennings, Conor Oliver.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Rory Telfer; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Eric O'Sullivan, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson; Alan O’Connor (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, James McNabney.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Wilhelm De Klerk.
Darragh Culhane
Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to live coverage between Connacht and Ulster in their final game of 2024 for both sides.
Sitting side-by-by-side mid-table, a win will lift one of the sides to right into the play-off mix.
Today's game kicks off at 7.35 pm and will be broadcast live on Premier Sport and is available to stream on the RTE Player.
We will have live score updates throughout the game right here so make sure to stay tuned.
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