Zebo’s red can’t stop Munster momentum

SIMON Zebo was sent off for the first time in his 148 Munster games but they still managed to snatch victory with a try from replacement Alex Kendellen four minutes from time at Thomond Park.

Kendellen wasn’t meant to be in the matchday squad but was drafted in after Peter O’Mahony was injured in the warm-up, with Tadhg Beirne taking over the captaincy when he came in to start and produced a superb display.

Munster’s woe continued on the pitch when Ulster got on top early on and Dan McFarland’s men were rewarded for their ambition when they went to the corner with a penalty and after getting the drive on, hooker Rob Herring scored. John Cooney landed the conversion from the left to lead 7-0 after eight minutes.

Zebo was sent off after 15 minutes for a shoulder to the head of Michael Lowry when both he and Jack Crowley tackled the Ulster full-back after chasing a high kick. Initially, referee Mike Adamson indicated there was mitigation that Crowley was also involved in the tackle, but TMO Brian MacNeice urged him to review it and the Scottish referee brandished a red card.

Munster, with Beirne leading the way, fought back but a 19-phase barrage inside the 22 failed to yield a try and when another sustained surge after a tapped penalty was also repelled, they opted for three points from Jack Crowley.

Crowley cut the gap to the minimum before the break with a penalty from 25 metres but Ulster

led 10-6 at the break when Nathan Doak, on for the injured Cooney, converted a penalty after Rory Scannell, playing his 150th game for Munster, was pinged for not rolling away.

Ulster extended their lead when Doak landed a penalty from 45 metres after 56 minutes but they lost replacement lock Kieran Treadwell to a yellow card for a dump tackle on Shane Daly.

Munster made them pay, they went to the left corner and recycled left to right for full-back Haley to score, but Crowley hit the upright with the conversion and they trailed 13-11 going into the final quarter.

But Munster never gave up and after Jack O’Donoghue made the hard yards, Alex Kendellen pounced for the winning score four minutes from time.