Dan Sheehan scores hat-trick off the pine as Leinster thump Ulster

Dan Sheehan scored a second-half hat-trick of tries in Leinster’s 41-17 United Rugby Championship win over Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

A much-changed Leinster forced a late penalty try to lead 19-10 at half-time after Tommy O’Brien and Thomas Clarkson had both crossed before Cormac Izuchukwu responded in impressive fashion for Ulster.

Ulster number eight Dave McCann was yellow carded for that penalty try, and the table toppers, who also had Diarmuid Mangan sin-binned, tagged on four more scores.

Garry Ringrose went over early in the second half before replacement Sheehan put the hosts well over the horizon, with Matthew Dalton squeezing in a consolation effort for Ulster.

Despite Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey’s late withdrawal, Ulster started positively with Jack Murphy kicking them in front in the eighth minute.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Leinster

15

14

1

0

67

2

Glasgow

15

11

4

0

58

3

Bulls

15

11

4

0

54

4

Sharks

15

10

5

0

49

5

Benetton

15

8

6

1

41

6

Cardiff Rugby

15

7

7

1

41

7

Munster

15

7

8

0

40

8

Stormers

15

7

8

0

40

9

Scarlets

15

7

7

1

38

10

Ulster

15

7

8

0

37

11

Edinburgh

15

6

9

0

37

12

Connacht

15

5

10

0

35

13

Ospreys

15

6

8

1

33

14

Lions

15

6

9

0

31

15

Zebre

15

5

10

0

27

16

Dragons RFC

15

1

14

0

9

Player-of-the-match O’Brien opened Leinster’s account in the 19th minute when he won the race to his own chip kick, beating Nathan Doak to ground the ball.

Injuries to Stewart Moore and Michael Lowry led to more back-line disruption for Ulster, who were operating with a six-two bench split.

Despite some line-out struggles for Leinster, the Ulster defence was worn down for Clarkson to burrow over. Ciaran Frawley’s conversion made it 12-3.

Izuchukwu, who stole a number of Leinster’s line-outs, took a great line on to John Cooney’s inside pass to weave his way over. Murphy added the extras.

However, McCann collapsed a Leinster maul for his yellow and the concession of the penalty try.

A rapid start to the second half saw Ringrose cross to secure the league leaders’ bonus point.

Tom Stewart’s dummy line-out throw let Leinster off the hook after Mangan had seen yellow for lifting a player’s legs above the horizontal.

Richie Murphy’s men fell further behind when O’Brien broke on to a Frawley dink forward, and superbly picked out try scorer Sheehan out on the right with a deft kick of his own.

Sam Prendergast then played in Sheehan for his second try. Dalton drove over at the other end, only for Fintan Gunne to send Sheehan charging over in the left corner to complete his hat-trick.