Peter O'Mahony signs off at Thomond Park with a try as Munster outclass Ulster

Munster 38 Ulster 20 

Peter O’Mahony crowned his final Thomond Park appearance with a brilliant second-half try, as Munster fans said farewell to their former captain, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer with a comfortable bonus-point victory over Ulster on Friday evening.

Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey scored a try in the sixth minute when he gathered a simple pass close to the Munster tryline and had the simple task of crashing over.

Munster responded impressively with them going to the corner from a penalty and after a few phases loose head Michael Milne burrowed over for his first try for the club in the 13th minute.

Ulster prop Scott Wilson was sin-binned when his shoulder made contact with Gavin Coombes’ head, but Ulster scored next when out-half Jack Murphy split the posts with a penalty.

Munster made the numbers count in the 24th minute with a great team try. Thaakir Abrahams and Diarmuid Kilgallen punched big holes before Craig Casey and Jack Crowley moved the ball quickly to the right wing and O’Mahony brilliantly stepped inside and popped to the supporting Tom Farrell to score.

Ulster scored immediately as Munster cheaply coughed up possession and when they went right Jude Postlethwaite bullied his way over with Murphy brilliantly slotting the touchline conversion.

Straight from the kickoff Murphy got himself charged down by Tadhg Beirne and the Lion was able to gather and dot down to make it 17-17. And in the 35th minute, Ulster tried some roughhouse tactics only for Munster to instantly maul them over for a Niall Scannell try, while Murphy kicked an easy penalty with the last kick of the half to make it 24-20 at the break.

McCloskey was brandished a yellow card in the 54th minute and off the first phase off the next lineout Farrell crossed again for his 10th try of the season. 

We got the loudest cheer of the night when Peter O’Mahony magnificently collected Crowley’s crossfield kick to slam the ball to the turf to mark his final appearance on the hallowed Thomond turf with a try.

Scorers for Munster: J Crowley (4 cons), T Farrell (2 tries), M Milne, T Beirne, N Scannell, P O’Mahony (1 try each).

Ulster: J Murphy (2 pens, 2 cons), S McCloskey, J Postlethwaite (1 try each).

MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (c); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.

Subs: T Ahern for J Kleyn (48), L Barron and A Kendellen for N Scannell and J Hodnett (56), F Wycherley for P O’Mahony (59), J Wychlerley and J Ryan for M Milne and S Archer (63), C Murray for C Casey (66), M Milne for G Coombes (68), S O’Brien for T Beirne (77), G Coombes for M Milne (78).

ULSTER: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; J Murphy, N Doak; A Warwick, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson (capt), C Izuchukwu; M Rea, N Timoney, J McNabney.

Subs: T O'Toole for R Baloucoune (19), R Baloucoune for T O’Toole (28), D McCann for M Rea (48), C Reid for A Warwick (49), T O’Toole for S Wilson (53), T Stewart and A O’Connor for R Herring and I Henderson (59), W Kok for R Baloucoune (59). 

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU).