Munster smash Ulster

Try for Munster: Peter O'Mahony

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• Munster
• Ulster

Munster booked an away semi-final with the Ospreys after securing third spot in the PRO12 thanks to a 36-8 win over Ulster.

Two first-half tries and three after the break accounted for a youthful Ulster side that played its part in an entertaining game at Thomond Park, and ensured Munster gained some measure of revenge for their Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to the same opponents.

Simon Zebo crossed for an excellent score on seven minutes and Peter O'Mahony dotted down on the stroke of half-time to hand Munster a useful 17-3 advantage going into the interval, with the rest of their points coming from the boot of fly-half Scott Deasy.

Munster extended their lead on 51 minutes when hooker Mike Sherry finished off a text book catch-and-drive move from a line-out, his final act before being replaced.

Deasy kicked his third conversion to make it 24-3, but Munster were then hit by a double blow in the space of a minute.

Talisman Paul O'Connell had to leave the field injured after being trapped awkwardly at the bottom of a ruck, causing Ireland boss Declan Kidney some concern ahead of the tour to New Zealand, and then 20-year-old loose forward Iain Henderson galloped down the right hand flank to mark his first senior start for Ulster with a fine try.

Munster, though, had the final word with two tries as Ulster tired. Stephen Archer burrowed his way to the line to touch down at the base of the post before openside Tommy O'Donnell raced home for Munster's fifth and final try.

The scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: Archer, O'Donnell, O'Mahony, Sherry, Zebo
Cons: Cusack, Deasy 3
Pen: Deasy

For Ulster:
Tries: Henderson
Pens: Jackson

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Ivan Dineen, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Scott Deasy, 23 Keith Earls.

Ulster: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Nevin Spence, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Chris Cochrane, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Nigel Brady (c), 1 Paddy McAllister.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Callum Black, 18 Tom Court, 19 Mike McComish, 20 Ali Birch, 21 Blane McIlroy, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Craig Gilroy.