WATCH: Munster and Ulster share spoils in 24-24 draw

A late JJ Hanrahan penalty was enough to secure a draw for Munster and end Ulster’s Pro14 playoff hopes at Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

The teams had vastly differing ambitions coming into the game with Ulster desperately clinging on to their European ambitions while for Munster it was a chance for some to lay claim for a 1/4 final place.

The visitors got off to a poor start when David Shanahan laboured at the back of a ruck under pressure from Mike Sherry. His opposite number Duncan Williams was alive to the loose ball, gathered and grounded the ball from close range to get the first score of the game. Hanrahan added the extras to give the home side a 7-0 lead inside two minutes.

Rapid start at Thomond Park!@WilliamsDuncan opens the scoring for @Munsterrugby against @UlsterRugby with an opportunistic pick-up…

📺 Watch it live on @SkySports / @TG4TV / @BBCnireland#MUNvULS #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/lwSJOGvKj2

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 28, 2018

Looking comfortable in possession Munster were then the architects of their own downfall when a loose pass from JJ Hanrahan was picked up by the Ulster defenders. Stuart McCloskey was on hand to cross for try with McPhillips converting to level the scores at seven points apiece after 6 minutes.

How about that for a response?@UlsterRugby level the scores at @Munsterrugby as @JacobStockdale picks up the loose ball and offloads to @Stuart_Mc12 for the try

📺 Watch it live on @SkySports / @TG4TV / @BBCnireland#MUNvULS #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/hI6AjvZ9Yj

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 28, 2018

The score settled Ulster who would go on to have the better of the next ten minutes. Their pressure was rewarded when Johnny McPhillips slotted a penalty – after Ben Whitehouse penalised Munster at the scrum – to make it 10-7 to Ulster.

Ulster had been really physical in the opening 20 minutes but that momentum was derailed somewhat halted as an injured Ian Henderson departed the field on 22 minutes to be replaced by Kieran Treadwell.

Some excellent defensive work at the breakdown was rewarded with penalty which Hanrahan dispatched to touch. The lineout was secured but the ball was dropped forward in the ensuing maul and the chance evaporated.

Ulster cleared from the scrum but could only find Darren Sweetnam who countered with some serious pace and cut deep into Ulster’s twenty two. With space out wide right, Williams moved the ball quickly from the base of the ruck.

James Cronin was involved twice in a move that also saw a carry from Mike Sherry before Brian Scott burrowed over for Munster’s second try. Another Hanrahan conversion meant Munster were back in front with a 14-10 lead with 29 minutes gone.

Robin Copeland would then fall foul of Ben Whitehouse as the Welsh official sent the number 8 to the bin for collapsing an Ulster maul. The visitors wasted no time in repeating the dose. This time their driving maul was unstoppable as Rory Best emerged to claim the try. McPhillips again was accurate with the conversion to make it 17-14 to Ulster.

He's been the ⭐️ man so far…

Marvel at the strength of @UlsterRugby captain @RoryBest2 as he scores his second try against @Munsterrugby just before the break.

📺 Watch it live on @SkySports / @TG4TV / @BBCnireland#MUNvULS #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/8AOs9HuuI3

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 28, 2018

Munster were struggling to contain Ulster in the maul and on the stroke of half time Rory Best crossed for Ulster’s third try of the half which was converted by McPhillips to give the visitors a deserved 24-14 half time lead.

Johann van Graan’s side would need major improvements in their second half if they were to get back into contention and the first chance presented itself in the 42nd minute from an attacking scrum but again some laboured play was halted by the Ulster defence and a clearance effected.

It was a frustrating end to the move but sings that Munster had upped the intensity from the opening half. Kelyn and O’Donoghue came on for O’Shea and Oliver respectively as Munster looked to add some extra tonnage to the pack.

Sam Arnold cam agonising close to getting over after a superb break from Sweetnam but a cynical kill at the ruck saw Luke Marshall sent to the bin. Two minutes later Munster would make their numerical advantage count when Robin Copeland reached over through the middle of a ruck to dot down for Munster’s third try.

The hosts hit back! 👊

With @UlsterRugby down to 14 men, @Munsterrugby claim their third try as Robin Copeland smashes over the whitewash!

📺 Watch it live on @SkySports / @TG4TV / @BBCnireland#MUNvULS #GUINNESSPRO14 pic.twitter.com/qrO0cwQvjy

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 28, 2018

JJ Hanrahan was again accurate with the kick and Munster were now back in contention with the gap cut to just three points.

The momentum had taken a noticeable shift towards the home side and a high tackle on Sam Arnold saw JJ kick to the corner to set up another attacking platform. Unfortunately Sherry’s throw was not straight and Ulster cleared via the scrum.

As the game entered the final twenty minutes Munster were in the ascendancy but were finding it hard to convert pressure into points. A bit of bad tempered shoving and pushing amounted to an Ulster penalty. The touch finder was missed but when Stephen Fitzgerald returned the kick, he was penalised for a mid air collision with the Ulster player.

It served to fire up the crowd who were growing increasingly frustrated with the Welsh official and the decibel level rose even more when Kleyn stole the Ulster lineout, allowing James Hart to clear.

Ulster were then penalised for coming in the side of a ruck on their own possession and Hanrahan landed the kick from 30 metres to level the scores at 24 apiece.

A 74th minute drop goal attempt from Hanrahan never really got off the ground as his attempt looked rushed with Ulster applying some good defensive pressure.

Stephen Archer was penalised for coming around in the lineout in an offside position and Ulster would get their chance from a five metre lineout. Munster initially defended the maul excellently forcing the visitors to go wide.

A ferocious period of play ensued but Ulster were going backwards before Copeland conceded a needless penalty for going in the side to offer Ulster another attacking platform from the lineout. The ball was overthrown and Gerbrandt Grobler claimed possession at the tail.

Hart found Hanrahan from the ruck and the Kerryman dispatched the ball to touch to claim the draw and end Ulster’s faint Pro14 hopes.

Munster now look forward to a home 1/4 final next weekend while it is very much back to the drawing board for an Ulster outfit with a lot of work to be done both on and off the field in the off season.

They will however face the possible prospect of Champions Cup playoff but will be awaiting other results before that is confirmed.