It was another night of frustration and what ifs for Ulster as their old foes from Munster snatched victory from jaws of defeat in the most dramatic of circumstances.
When James McNabney got in for Ulster’s third try of the night with four minutes to go, it was looking like Ulster were heading to a second inter-pro win of the season, instead it’s now five losses in succession for Richie Murphy’s side.
But before they knew it, they were back underneath their own posts watching Jack Crowley convert Tom Farrell’s third and Munster’s fourth try of the night as the visitors clinched a dramatic 22-19 win.
It was a sore one to take for an Ulster side that had battled gamely with 14 players from the 31st minute following Tom O’Toole’s red card.
O’Toole was dismissed after referee Ben Whitehouse had adjudged his cleanout on Alex Nankivell to be of a high degree of danger. A decision which Murphy thought was harsh.
“Obviously the red card is a big moment in the game,” admitted Murphy.
“It’s a tough red card because he is through the gate and makes contact square on. He’s not through the side, but as he falls backwards his leg comes out and Tom falls on it.
“I can kind of understand that, but it is difficult because it’s not an illegal act at the start.”
Munster’s Rory Scannell received a yellow card midway through the second half but Murphy thinks that the visitors were somewhat let off the hook earlier in the half. Scott Wilson made a break of 40 metres and was unceremoniously stopped just short of the Munster line.
A challenge that Murphy felt fully warranted a yellow card.
“We get a line break in the second half from Scott Wilson who runs 40 metres, gets tackled on the five-metre line gets to the line and they give away a penalty.
“I’m not sure how that’s not a yellow card and obviously the game changes as we’re back to 14 against 14.”
Ulster’s ever growing injury list also just seems to be growing day by day.
On Friday night Zac Ward and Stuart McCloskey both left the field in the first half causing a major reshuffle in the backline. Murphy confirmed that Ward suffered an ankle injury while a hamstring injury is likely to keep McCloskey out of Saturday nights trip to Galway where Ulster take on Connacht.
“To lose Zac Ward and Stuart McCloskey, bring on a young out half (Jack Murphy) push your out half to 13, take your winger off (Rory Telfer) who’s just come on and it’s a bit of a mess at that stage.”
Despite all that upheaval, Ulster acquitted themselves quite well but Murphy admitted that he was frustrated at easily his let Munster back into the game after twice taking the lead.
“As good as we were for quite a lot of periods, we still made some errors that cost us in the end.
“We always knew this would be a really tough period and today we happen to have fed Munster a little bit.
“We were really good at times keeping them trapped down their end and putting them under pressure but any time we had a restart into us we conceded.”
“I’m I frustrated? Yeah, I am. You know what I mean.
“We’re bitterly disappointed but at the same time, to have the backline out what we had, to lose someone like Tom and for Scott to come on, I’m extremely proud on how they’ve conducted themselves tonight.
“On another night you get over the line.”