Munster pip Ulster to win

Munster 21 Ulster 15

Paul Burke kicked a 74th-minute penalty to finally end Ulster’s belief as Munster held on to pip their provincial rivals at a cold Musgrave Park.

The victory kept the Celtic League title race alive for another week and Burke’s slot – his fourth success from six – proved to be the only points of the second half.

Alan Gaffney’s side remain 12 points behind the pace-setting Ospreys with three rounds to play.

Localised fog may have diverted the visitors’ flight to neighbouring Kerry, but it was Munster who were forced to weather an early storm – as third-bottom Ulster searched manfully for a first win in Cork since 1990.

Although Burke clipped over a fifth-minute 25-metre penalty, Mark McCall’s charges were quick to reply.

Winger Tommy Bowe, excused from Ireland Under-21 duty, danced in along the touchline to post his seventh try of the campaign.

Paddy Wallace’s conversion attempt slammed against the post but the Ireland ’A’ fly-half was on target on with a sweet 30-metre drop goal midway through the half – answering a John Kelly try for the home side, for an 8-8 scoreline.

Kelly had struck in the left corner – with Ulster a man down due to a Gary Longwell ruck infringement – yet in a frantic half, number eight Roger Wilson shifted the balance with a second Ulster try after 34 minutes.

Munster’s tenacity was rewarded as they stole an unlikely interval lead.

First, Burke stepped up to reduce the arrears to four and then David Wallace - the forgotten man of Ireland’s backrow contingent – slalomed through for an injury-time try.

Burke’s extras pushed Munster 18-15 in front and their dogged determination - epitomised by captain Jim Williams – was rewarded again late on when Burke kicked the first of two mid-distance penalty shots.