REDS RUN RIOT WITH A RECORD LEAGUE RESULT
Munster 64 Ulster 7
JOEY CARBERY produced a man of the match and scored his first Munster try at Thomond Park as they scored a record win over Ulster.
And former All Black Alby Mathewson producing a stunning display on his Munster debut as the Reds went on the rampage.
Their previous biggest win over Ulster was a 42-6 success a decade ago.
Mathewson, drafted in on a short-term deal as cover for Conor Murray, was outstanding from the outset as Munster bounced back from their dismal loss in Cardiff.
Munster had the bonus point in the bag by the 38th minute and with Murray’s immediate future uncertain, Mathewson’s performance could not be more timely.
Ulster, having fielded a weakened team, knew their unbeaten start to the season was unlikely to survive in Thomond Park against a Munster side badly in need of making a statement.
It was obvious Munster were fired-up from the start and they hit the front in the fifth minute when Dan Goggin had a kick blocked down by Darren Cave in midfield, but the ball came to Andrew Conway. His delayed pass gave Alex Wootton space and he cut inside from the left superbly to put Goggin through to score under the posts.
Carbery converted and Munster went further in front in the ninth minute when Cave missed a tackle on Tommy O’donnell and the flanker raced through to score, with Carbery (left) converting. Mathewson showed how comfortable he was in his new surroundings by flinging an audacious lengthy American Football style lineout to Rory Scannell, much to the delight of the home crowd of 13,907.
Carbery pushed Munster 17-0 up and Ireland lock Iain Henderson exited the field for a HIA in the 20th minute before Billy Burns put two kickable penalties into the corner but Ulster were unable to get over.
O’donnell got 19th try for his native province Munster before Goggin went over again.
Carbery gave his side a 29-0 lead at the break.
Darren Cave pulled back a try but Peter O’mahony, Carbery, Sammy Arnold, Wootton (two) and the returning Keith Earls all scored tries.
MUNSTER: D Goggin 2, T O’donnell 2. P O’mahony, J Carbery, S Arnold, K Earls, A Wootton tries; J Carbery 5 cons, pen; I Keatley 3 cons ULSTER: D Cave try; B Burns con