Ulster fight back to draw with Munster in thriller

A second-half fightback earned Ulster a draw against Munster in a thrilling United Rugby Championship Irish derby in Belfast.

Munster looked on course for a bonus-point win after first-half tries from Alex Kendellen (2), Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly put them 26-5 up at the break.

However, having already marked his 150th appearance with a superb solo try in the first half, Jacob Stockdale's second raised Ulster's hopes of a turnaround.

David McCann further cut the gap, and after replacement Munster fly-half Charlie O'Shea kicked a penalty short, Stuart McCloskey touched down three minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils.

It is a second successive draw for Ulster after last week's 33-33 tie with Glasgow, although an opening loss to Edinburgh leaves Richie Murphy's team still searching for their first win of the season.

After Munster head coach Clayton McMillan admitted midweek that last season's dismal 28-3 loss in Belfast remains "etched" in his memory, it was perhaps unsurprising to see his side fired up for the season's first interpro.

They were helped by Ulster, though, who looked sluggish early on, having also been slow out of the blocks at home to Edinburgh a fortnight ago.

Ulster's early handling errors handed Munster chances to strike and they took the lead when Kendellen crashed down following a maul.

That try jolted Ulster into life, and after a scrum on the edge of the Munster 22, Ethan McIlroy fed Stockdale, who barged past two red shirts to score a fine try, which stood following a lengthy television match official (TMO) check to see if Stuart McCloskey had tripped Shay McCarthy.

However, Stockdale's surge of inspiration proved a fleeting moment of joy for the hosts as Munster reasserted control through their pack, who constructed another effective maul for Van der Merwe to score.

Matters only got worse for Ulster. Having already lost second row Eli Snyman to a head knock, Cormac Izuchukwu was yellow carded after his shoulder struck Gavin Coombes' head at a ruck.

Within a couple of minutes of Izuchukwu's exit, Hanrahan sent Kelly through a gap in the Ulster defence to extend Munster's lead.

Then, with Ireland head coach Andy Farrell watching from the stands, Kendellen crossed for the second time to seal the away side's bonus point before half time and deepen the hosts' malaise.

Ulster: McIlroy; Baloucoune, Benson, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart (capt), Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, O'Toole, McAllister, McNabney, McCann, Devine, Flannery, Mullins.

Yellow cards:

Munster: O'Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; Hanrahan, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Clein, Wycherley, Aungier, Foy, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Shea, Hodnett.