Ulster v Connacht recap: Score and result from URC quarter-final

Irish Mirror

05 May 2023

Ulster v Connacht recap: Score and result from URC quarter-final

Man of the match Shamus Hurley-Langton said they knew they will have a right crack off either the Bulls or the Stormers in a bid to nail a spot in the URC final after seeing off Ulster in Belfast.

Andy Friend’s men were full value for their win and would have eased to an easy victory had they taken their chances, but Kiwi Hurley-Langton said they now head to South Africa with a pep in their step.

“I love South Africa, it is a great country and I’m looking to getting down there and dig into it.

“In the last few weeks we knew we had it in us. Ulster are a class outfit but we knew if we played our best game then we could get a result,” said the 23-year old.

Connacht, with 60% possession, deservedly led 9-3 at the break and should have been much further ahead but they lacked precision in their finishing and regularly took wrong options.

Both sides were guilty of multiple errors, particularly in handling, during a misfiring opening half.

Connacht twice failed to make penalty advantages inside the Ulster 22 count and then when they tapped and went after 15 minutes rather than take the opening points, they knocked on and the chance was lost.

Superb turnovers won by the impressive flanker Hurley-Langton and No.8 Cian Prendergast were not punished by Connacht, with centre Tom Farrell crashing into full-back Mike Lowry rather than slipping a pass to his scrum-half Caolin Blade who had a clear run to the line after 18 minutes.

Ulster countered with Rob Baloucoune making ground and Stewart Moore executing a superb pick-up and they won a penalty which allowed John Cooney put the home side ahead going into the second quarter.

Connacht dominated from there to the break and while they didn’t get in for the opening try, the pressure yielded penalties and skipper Jack Carty landed three from three to lead 9-3 at the interval.

Connacht continued to dominate after the restart and Carty extended the lead with a penalty after 45 minutes as Ulster struggled to get their hands on the ball.

Connacht struggled to make a couple of try chances count and Ulster got back in contention after 65 minutes when they piled on the pressure after the introduction of replacement hooker Tom Stewart.

A good build-up was completed when skipper Alan O’Connor got over for the only try of the match, with Cooney’s conversion cutting the gap to 12-10.

But the Connacht response was good. They continued to boss the breakdown and kept winning penalties and a superb break by replacement scrum-half Kieran Marmion ended with Carty pushing the lead out to five with less than five minutes remaining.

Ulster piled on the pressure in the closing stages but Connacht defended stoutly and hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin won a priceless turnover in the final play to book their place in the semi-finals.

Connacht progress in thriller

Not the cleanest rugby game you will see despite the perfect conditions.

In truth, Connacht were the better team for most of that game but were shockingly poor close to the try line, if they were in anyway clinical the game could have been done by half time.

Ulster will be disappointed with how this season ends but were flat for most of the game.

Full time! Ulster 10-15 Connacht

Doak kicks it into the Connacht 22 and there is 90 seconds to go.

What an ending this will be.

Ulster win the line out and have advantage and make some ground.

They don't have far to go but any mistake ends it.

Ulter come again and again and are about 10 metres out, this is relentless.

They are five metres out now as the clock is red but Connacht win a penalty!!!! That will do it and what an upset.

The ball is kicked out and it's full time. A brilliant game

Ulster 10-15 Connacht

Mack Hansen is taken out in the air and it's another penalty for Connacht and they can bleed some clock and clear their lines.

The ball is just short of halfway and win the line out.

Ulster get a huge turnover and there are three minutes to go.

They need a try but Connacht turn it over.

Marmion garyowens it and Mack Hansen wins it.

Nash wins the next up and under and they only have two minutes to close this out but there is no reason for the scrum-half to kick it away three times and Ulster win a penalty with the clock stopped at 78.12

Ulster 10-15 Connacht

Kieran Marmion reels back the years and makes a line break of about 35 metres and brings Connacht into the Ulster 22 and with a bloody nose too.

Billy Burns is called for an offside and Jack Carty has a chance to make this a five-point game.

He scores!

Ulster 10-12 Connacht

Ulster come again and a penalty is given against John Cooney.

Connacht have seven minutes here to hang on and it's anyone's bet who will come out on top here

Ulster 10-12 Connacht

Ulster have a line out at the five metre line and it is contentious.

They win it and have a chance to take the lead here.

Connacht holding on for dear life and win a huge penalty as Ulster are inches away and celebrate it like a try of their own.

We are 71 minutes in and Connacht lead by two

Ulster 10-12 Connacht

Tom Stewart is stopped right before the try line but Alan O'Connor gets over and Ulster are right back in this.

Cooney steps up for the points after.

Two point game at the 65 minute mark

Ulster 3-12 Connacht

Ulster finally putting some pressure and Burns kicks it past the try line but it's touched down. Connacht touch it down and Ulster kick for the corner again after advantage is called back.

Ulster win the line out and are metres away and the referee awards a penalty.

Ulster 3-12 Connacht

Ulster finally put a play together and Robert Baloucoune looks to be in. He is stopped and Ulster have another phase but Mack Hansen goes in for a huge turnover. Wow.

We are 60 minutes in here and the next score is so important

Ulster 3-12 Connacht

Connacht steal the ball and now have five minutes to go.

They have been much the better team but keep making mistakes when they get to this point and this time it is no different as a terrible pass is thrown.

Ulster live to fight another day but, in truth, this game should be finished by now

Ulster 3-12 Connacht

Connacht win another penalty and Carty drives it down the field and into touch.

They go over the try line and it is being discussed with the TMO.

The referee says on-field try but it's a knock on and comes back for a scrum

Ulster 3-12 Connacht

It's a penalty for Connacht and Carty hits the post but it sneaks in.

The upset is very much on here

We are back underway! Ulster 3-9 Connacht

We are back underway and not even two minutes in and it all spills over again as tempers flare

Half time! Ulster 3-9 Connacht

Connacht fans will be tearing their hair out as they continue to spill passes.

This one comes at the end of an advantage however and Carty kicks the points to give the visitors a six-point lead going into the half

Ulster 3-6 Connacht

This is excellent from Connacht as they rip through Ulster.

A little dink kick is knocked on in the Ulster 22 and it's a scrum for Connacht.

They win it but hit a loose pass and turn it over.

A scrappy game that will be won with some composure

Ulster 3-6 Connacht

Connacht withstands some huge Ulster pressure and win the ball back and go right up the field and win a penalty.

It feels huge and Carty step up.

He makes ni mistake and as we hit 34 minutes Connacht take the lead

Ulster 3-3 Connacht

Connacht come up the field and win a penalty straight away and it's all level as Carty kicks a close range penalty

Ulster 3-0 Connacht

Ulster finally mount a good attack and win a penalty.

They will kick for the posts and Cooney makes no mistake

Ulster 0-0 Connacht

For a game being played in perfect conditions it is surprising it is scoreless up to this point.

Connacht were very close to the try line and then there was a mistake. It all spilled over into a skirmish that lasted a couple of minutes and the referee has warned there will be cards

We are underway!

We are underway here in Belfast

Nearly ready to go

We are nearly ready to go here and conditions are perfect here in Belfast

Team News

Connacht: Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Jack Carty (c), Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, John Porch, Tiernan O'Halloran

Replacement: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisin Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Bryson Ralston

Ulster: Rory Sutherland, Rob Herring, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen Alan O'Connor (c), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen, John Cooney, Billy Burns, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, James Hume, Rob Baloucoune, Mike Lowry

Replacements: T Stewart, F O'Sullivan, G Milasinovich, S Carter, J Murphy, N Doak, S Moore, C Gilroy