Munster nine points clear

Three late tries for Munster helped ease the Magners League leaders to a 35-10 win over Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Replacements Tommy O'Donnell, Barry Murphy and Lifeimi Mafi all scored in the final eight minutes to apply a rather flattering gloss to the scoreline.

However, the sight of Jerry Flannery limping off in the closing minutes after another attempted comeback from a troublesome calf injury tempered home celebrations.

In wet conditions, Ulster took an early lead with a Thomas Anderson try and five points from the boot of Paddy Wallace.

Munster found themselves 10-6 down at half time but they fought back through the boot of Paul Warwick and a Denis Hurley try.

The home side then stepped up a gear as their opponents tired and also lost Neil McComb to the sin-bin - their late try bonanza moving Munster nine points clear at the top of the table.

Pressure

Ulster were placed under immediate pressure from the off but Munster could not make use of the early territory.

Warwick missed a penalty left of the posts and some good continuity from Paul Marshall and the Ulster forwards was rewarded by Wallace's well-struck opener in the 10th minute.

Munster's midfield was nowhere two minutes later when Tommy Seymour side-stepped and linked up with Willie Faloon, with Anderson fending off Peter Stringer before crossing the whitewash - Wallace adding the extras for 10-0.

Warwick kicked one of two penalty attempts and yet it was Ulster at this stage who carried more of an attacking threat.

Marshall's 30-metre burst from the back of a ruck almost resulted in a try. But Munster survived and then gained welcome territory after some indiscipline from their opponents.

Warwick kicked another penalty in the 32nd minute but Wallace could not add to Ulster's tally at the end of the first half when a penalty attempt went right.

A series of pick-and-go drives from the home forwards set Warwick up for a three-pointer from close range early in the second half, with Munster then getting their act together and scoring.

Sam Tuitupou and Keith Earls sprung Scott Deasy through a gap and over halfway, the home side keeping possession before Warwick's looping pass sent Hurley in at the left corner.

Dominant

Hooker Flannery then made his first appearance since October, and after Ulster replacement McComb was yellow carded for illegally bringing down a maul, the hosts began to dominate.

Denis Leamy was held up over the try-line and just when a penalty try was looming, an early engagement at a five-metre scrum saw Munster blow the chance.

They were soon back on the Ulster line though, with Earls hauled down just short by Chris Henry before the Munster forwards made their presence felt.

O'Donnell crossed from close range, with Warwick's conversion taking the score out to 21-10.

Ulster threw caution to the wind but after Marshall lost possession from a tap penalty, Murphy hacked the loose ball downfield before dotting down.

Doug Howlett earned a yellow card for killing Ulster ball in the dying minutes, but an injury-time counter attack involving Earls, Murphy and Donnacha Ryan was finished by Mafi for the bonus point.