Munster hold off Ulster to earn priceless away win in Belfast

A first win for Munster in Belfast for five-and-a-half years, and it could hardly have come at a better time.

With Scotland and South Africa's finest breathing down their necks, Johann van Graan's side have taken a big step towards securing a home quarter-final in this season's United Rugby Championship, backing up last week's rousing win against Exeter with a 24-17 win against Ulster.

By contrast, the mood around Dan McFarland's side has shifted.

It's just 13 days since they appeared to have taken a major step when they won away in Toulouse, but after last week's second leg defeat to the French side, they've now been leapfrogged by their provincial rivals into second place in the URC, with just two games to go in the regular season.

It was deserved win by the visitors, who moved the ball around the pitch and played with real pace and fluidity to their game in the first half, before defending stoutly against Ulster's second half fightback.

Once again, Jack O'Donoghue impressed, continuing his career-best form, but it was the work of two Munster veterans that sent them on their way to success, with 34-year-old pair Stephen Archer and Keith Earls scoring tries in a five minute first half spell which sent them on their way.

A Rob Herring try early in the second half gave Ulster hope, and while the hosts wasted several opportunities to get back into the game, Sean Reidy's converted try in the final five minutes handed them a lifeline.

But it would only be good enough for a losing bonus point, with Joey Carbery's penalty in the final minute sealing a vital win for Munster.

The physicality was set inside 90 seconds, Earls hitting Rob Baloucoune with a sweetly timed tackle right beneath the chest, enough to keep the Ulster wing down