Ulster ended 2024 as they started it by winning an Irish derby away from home and in the process brought a five-match losing run to an end with a deserved win at Dexcom Stadium in Galway.
Ulster have endured a lot since defeating Leinster at the RDS on New Year’s Day almost twelve months ago but they were full value for their win over a disappointing Connacht side who have now failed to pick up a single point in their last three URC games, two of which were at home.
Ulster led 10-7 at the break, having started the game superbly and dominated the opening quarter when Connacht just could not get their hands on the ball on a perfect night for rugby in Galway.
Both sides were forced into two late changes with illness ruling out captain Alan O’Connor. Kieran Treadwell came into the second row with Nick Tomoney captaining the side. And then hooker Rob Andrew was replaced after picking up a knock in the warm-up with John Andrew coming in to start with James McCormick added to the bench.
Connacht also lost their hooker Dave Heffernan, who was replaced by Dylan Tierney-Martin, while Niall Murray came in for younger brother Darragh in the second row.
Connacht struggled with Ulster’s early blitz and when out-half Jack Murphy, in his first start, executed a brilliant 50:22 after a knock-on by Bundee Aki after two minutes, the visitors penned Pete Wilkins side deep inside their own half.
The pressure eventually told after a series of set-pieces inside the Connacht 22 and loosehead Eric O’Sullivan, with a penalty advantage, made it over the line near the left post. Nathan Doak converted to lead 7-0 after 12 minutes.
Ulster pushed on from there with No.8 academy player James McNabney leading the way and Doak extended their lead with a penalty in front of the posts after 14 minutes.
But with Connacht getting an edge in the scrum where Finlay Bealham got the upperhand on O’Sullivan, they started to build the phases after having just 37% possession in the opening quarter.
The Ulster defence was good despite their troubles in the scrum but they were carved open six minutes from the break with a sublime chip from Jack Carty was fumbled by Ulster full-back Mike Lowry and the ball bounced kindly for Mack Hansen who collected and raced in to score under the posts. Carty converted to cut the gap to 10-7.
Ulster brought in Andrew Warwick for O’Sullivan at the start of the second-half and were forced to make another change when winger Werner Kok had to go off and was replaced by Wilhelm de Klerk.
Bealham and Connacht won another penalty in the first scrum of the second-half after 50 minutes to clear their lines but Ulster’s defence was organised, pilfering the lineout through Cormac Izuchukwu before countering from deep and when Sean Jansen, just on the field, was pinged for offside Ulster had no hesitation in going for the right corner.
And they were rewarded after McNabney took the lineout, with the superb Nick Timoney spinning away and somehow managing to ground the ball. Doak added the difficult conversion from the right to lead 17-7 after 56 minutes.
Connacht changed their half-backs with Ben Murphy coming on to play against his brother Jack — with dad Richie in the Ulster coaching box — while Cathal Forde moved to out-half after Jack Carty was replaced by Shane Jennings.
Connacht, with Jansen carrying well, pushed forward in a bid to save the game but their error count remained high, squandering a penalty to the left corner with a knock-on after taking the lineout, while another promising lineout in the right corner was again turned over.
And then after opting for the corner with a penalty on the 22, Forde kicked the ball dead as he went for maximum ground just over ten minutes from the end.
A chip from Hansen saw him almost get in for a second try and when Dave McCann was forced to carry back over his own line, Connacht were presented with a five-metre scrum in front of the posts six minutes from time. But the new Ulster front row got the shove and forced a penalty to clear their lines and they held on from there to secure a badly needed win.
Scorers: Connacht: Try: M Hansen. Con: J Carty.
Ulster: Tries: E O’Sullivan, N Timoney. Cons: N Doak (2).
Connacht: P O’Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Cordero; J Carty (S Jennings 58), C Blade (B Murphy 58); D Buckley (P Dooley 63-74), D Tierney-Martin (E de Builtlear 63), F Bealham (J Aungier 63); J Murphy (O Dowling 53), N Murray; C Prendergast (c), S Hurley-Langton (C Oliver 66), P Boyle (S Jansen 53).
Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok (W de Klerk 41), B Carson, J Postlethwaite, R Telfer, J Murphy, N Doak; E O’Sullivan (A Warwick 41), J Andrew (J McCormick 13-28, 65), S Wilson (C Barrett 65), K Treadwell (H Sheridan 69), C Izuchukwu, Matty Rea (D McCann 50), N Timoney (c), J McNabney.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland).
By contrast, Connacht were incredibly wasteful. They ventured into the Ulster 22 on numerous occasions only to be let down by poor decision and handling errors.
Still, he has taken all the pressure off his team. With a ten point gap and two minutes on the clock, there’s no way back for Connacht.
Kicking it dead from 22m is unforgivable.
A proud moment for Ulster boss Richie Murphy