Peter O’Mahony scores on his final Thomond Park game as Munster edge past Ulster

Peter O’Mahony enjoyed a try-scoring send-off in his final appearance at Thomond Park as Munster beat provincial rivals Ulster 38-20.

Helping the 2023 BKT URC champions to boost their play-off hopes, O’Mahony’s 58th-minute try from a Jack Crowley cross-field kick drew a massive ovation from the home crowd.

Tries from captain Tadhg Beirne and Niall Scannell, either side of the half-hour mark, steered Munster to their bonus point and a 24-20 half-time lead.

Ulster had led twice during a frenetic first half, with centres Stuart McCloskey and Jude Postlethwaite both crossing. Jack Murphy kicked 10 points.

However, the visitors lost both Scott Wilson and McCloskey to the sin bin, and this result looks like a fatal blow to their bid for a top-eight finish.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Munster

38 - 20

Full-time

Ulster

All Stats and Data

Tom Farrell’s second try of the game and O’Mahony’s 17th score of his career ensured a night to remember for the retiring second-rower and Stephen Archer, and departing scrum half Conor Murray.

McCloskey was unstoppable from close range in the fifth minute, with Murphy converting for an early seven-point advantage.

Following Munster prop Michael Milne’s similar score at the other end, Wilson saw yellow for his right shoulder making contact with Gavin Coombes’ head in a tackle.

Player-of-the-match Farrell cancelled out a Murphy penalty with his ninth try of the season, profiting from O’Mahony’s neat assist.

A Murphy penalty steadied the Ulstermen at 17-10, yet the young fly-half was then charged down by Beirne for the concession of seven points.

Despite Munster struggling at times in the line-out, Scannell crashed over from a 34th-minute maul before Murphy squeezed in a late penalty.

A tight third quarter was scoreless until McCloskey’s sin-binning for a sloppy ruck penalty. Alex Nankivell deftly put Farrell over just to the right of the posts, with Crowley’s boot extending the lead to 31-20.

O’Mahony climbed above Nathan Doak to turn Crowley’s bouncing kick into try number six.

Ulster replacement Callum Reid was held up and Munster saw out the result despite Josh Wycherley’s late sin-binning.