TAKE IT AS RED

Zebo dismissal brings Munster to life for crucial derby comeback

JOHANN VAN GRAAN insists 14-man Munster’s victory last night dispels fears his summer departure has damaged the Reds.

After a poor losing display at Connacht and subsequent calls led by Keith Wood that van Graan should leave early or change his tactics, the province pulled out another backs to the wall triumph.

Captaining Munster for the first time, birthday boy Tadhg Beirne (right) inspired the Thomond Park hosts who lost Peter O’Mahony to injury in the warm-up – and then lost Simon Zebo to a deserved 15th minute red card.

Beirne replaced O’Mahony at blindside and Alex Kendellen, who was promoted to the bench, scored the winning try five minutes from time. It was the first time that Munster were ahead as Ulster faltered badly after a three-week lay-off.

“You could see it in there tonight, it’s all about heart and all about the club,” said van Graan, when asked about the dressing-room environment given that both himself and Stephen Larkham had announced summer moves. “No-one’s above the club, everyone’s all in for Munster.

“And it doesn’t matter, there’s always end dates to contracts. Once you’re part of the Munster family you stick in to the end.”

Ulster were in a strong position after 20 minutes.

Rob Herring finished an eight minute lineout maul, John Cooney converted the game’s opening try and then Zebo was dismissed for a high hit on Michael Lowry.

Munster were fortunate that out-half Jack Crowley, who had also tackled Lowry high in the same incident, wasn’t at least sin-binned. Typically, the Reds were galvanised by the set-back.

“They were magnificent when they went down to 14 men,” said

Ulster boss Dan McFarland. “I thought they would be – they were tigerish and we didn’t match that.”

Ulster lost the influential Cooney to injury in the 23rd minute and quickly found themselves on the backfoot.

Munster reverted to old traits when the wide open Sean French was ignored with the try line at his mercy and the hosts’ first points were from Crowley’s boot.

A 39th minute penalty allowed the No.10 to make it 7-6, though Ulster ended the half with Cooney’s replacement Nathan Doak extending his side’s lead to four points. He stretched that lead with a long-range 57th minute penalty off a dominant Ulster scrum. Soon after, however, the visitors lost Kieran

Treadwell to the sin-bin – the penalty kicked to the corner gave Munster the chance to level things up.

This time Munster went wide to the impressive Mike Haley off Craig Casey’s superb pass to score his side’s first try. Crowley’s conversion attempt caught the woodwork.

Haley’s 75th minute counter under the high ball led to Jack O’Donoghue’s break, though Josh Wycherley’s attempt to cross saw the ball spin from his hands. Crucially, the ball went back to Kendellen and the young back row crashed over. Ben Healy converted and there was no way back for Ulster. MUNSTER: M Haley, A Kendellen. Con:

Healy. Pens: Crowley (2).

ULSTER: Try: R Herring. Con: J Cooney.

Pens: N Doak (2)

No-one’s above the club, everyone’s all in for Munster