United Rugby Championship
Ulster (5) 26
Tries: Stockdale 2, McCann, McCloskey Cons: Murphy 3
Munster (26) 26
Tries: Kendellen 2, Van der Merwe, Kelly Cons: Hanrahan 3
A second-half fightback earned Ulster a draw towards Munster in an exciting United Rugby Championship Irish derby in Belfast.
Munster regarded on track for a bonus-point win after first-half tries from Alex Kendellen (2), Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly put them 26-5 up on the break.
Nonetheless, having already marked his one hundred and fiftieth look with an excellent solo strive within the first half, Jacob Stockdale's second raised Ulster's hopes of a turnaround.
David McCann additional lower the hole, and after alternative Munster fly-half Charlie O'Shea kicked a penalty quick, Stuart McCloskey touched down three minutes from time to make sure a share of the spoils.
It’s a second successive draw for Ulster after final week's 33-33 tie with Glasgow, though a gap loss to Edinburgh leaves Richie Murphy's crew nonetheless trying to find their first win of the season.
Munster dominate first half
After Munster head coach Clayton McMillan admitted midweek that final season's dismal 28-3 loss in Belfast stays "etched" in his reminiscence, it was maybe unsurprising to see his facet fired up for the season's first interpro.
They have been helped by Ulster, although, who regarded sluggish early on, having additionally been gradual out of the blocks at house to Edinburgh a fortnight in the past.
Ulster's early dealing with errors handed Munster probabilities to strike they usually took the lead when Kendellen crashed down following a maul.
That strive jolted Ulster into life, and after a scrum on the sting of the Munster 22, Ethan McIlroy fed Stockdale, who barged previous two pink shirts to attain a positive strive, which stood following a prolonged tv match official (TMO) examine to see if Stuart McCloskey had tripped Shay McCarthy.
Nonetheless, Stockdale surge of inspiration proved a fleeting second of pleasure for the hosts as Munster reasserted management by way of their pack, who constructed one other efficient maul for Van der Merwe to attain.
Issues solely obtained worse for Ulster. Having already misplaced second row Eli Snyman to a head knock, Cormac Izuchukwu was yellow carded after his shoulder struck Gavin Coombes' head at a ruck.
Inside a few minutes of Izuchukwu's exit, Hanrahan despatched Kelly by way of a niche within the Ulster defence to increase Munster's lead.
Then, with Eire head coach Andy Farrell watching on from the stands, Kendellen crossed for the second time to seal the away facet's bonus level earlier than half time and deepen the hosts' malaise.
Ulster spark into life
Murphy's response to his facet's struggles was to introduce Tom McAllister and James McNabney on the break, carefully adopted by Tom O'Toole and Matthew Devine.
O'Toole – on his first look of the season – regarded particularly sharp and it was his surge ahead that created the opening for Rob Baloucoune to dash in direction of the road and tee up Stockdale.
McCann then scored following a interval of sustained strain to carry Ulster to inside a rating earlier than O'Shea kicked his penalty quick, having needed to scramble after the ball fell off the tee.
With time operating out, Ulster pushed for the equalising rating and McCloskey – on his first outing this season after an impressive 2025-26 marketing campaign – barged his manner over earlier than Jack Murphy held his nerve to ship his conversion between the posts and degree the match.
Line-ups
Ulster: McIlroy; Baloucoune, Benson, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart (capt), Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Augustus.
Replacements: Walker, O'Toole, McAllister, McNabney, McCann, Devine, Flannery, Mullins.
Yellow playing cards:
Munster: O'Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; Hanrahan, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.
Replacements: Clein, Wycherley, Aungier, Foy, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Shea, Hodnett.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
