Ulster fight back to draw with Munster in thriller
Ulster came from a commanding 26-5 deficit at halftime to secure a draw against Munster in a thrilling United Rugby Championship Irish derby in Belfast. Stuart McCloskey's converted try three minutes from time completed the hosts' remarkable second-half fightback. This is Ulster's second successive draw in the competition but they remain winless after an opening loss to Edinburgh.
Munster dominated the first half with tries from Alex Kendellen (scoring twice), Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly, along with three successful conversions, establishing a commanding 26-5 lead by the break. Ulster's replacements made an immediate impact in the second half, with Jacob Stockdale scoring twice—including a memorable solo effort that marked his 150th appearance—followed by tries from David McCann and McCloskey. A crucial error from replacement Munster fly-half Charlie O'Shea, whose short penalty kick fell loose in the final minutes, allowed Ulster to seize the opportunity for McCloskey's match-saving try.
- Ulster fought back from 26-5 down to draw with Munster in a thriller
- McCloskey's late converted try completed an extraordinary second-half comeback
- Ulster remain without a win this season despite back-to-back draws
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The United Rugby Championship is the top professional rugby competition in Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Ulster and Munster are two of Ireland's four professional rugby teams, representing different regions of the island.
Matches between them are known as derbies – regional rivalries that carry significant meaning within Irish rugby. These inter-provincial fixtures have featured in Irish rugby for many years and remain closely watched by supporters and analysts alike.
Ulster began this season's competition with a defeat against Edinburgh. Early results are important in a long season, as they help establish momentum and confidence as teams work toward the latter stages of the tournament.