| Leinster: (10) 38 |
| Tries: Kelleher, Ringrose 2; Porter, Lowe Pens: Byrne Cons: Byrne 5 |
| Ulster: (22) 29 |
| Tries: Herring, Treadwell, McIlroy, Carter; Pen: Cooney; Cons: Cooney 2, Doak |
The remarkable comeback of fourteen-man Leinster saw them defeat Ulster by 29 points.
Cianhealy was red carded on 21 minutes. Leo Cullen’s men trailed 22-3 by the end of half-time. After running in five tries at an RDS Arena, 35 unanswered points were scored.
Rob Herring, Kieran Trreadwell and Ethan McIlroy scored tries to cap off a dominant first half display by the visitors.
Ronan Kelleher scored to give the hosts hope right before the break. Andrew Porter and James Lowe also tried their luck, but Leinster won it with Garry Ringrose’s double. Sam Carter then grabbed a consolation for Dan McFarland.
Ulster was reduced down to 13 men in a spell by Nick Timoney and James Hume, who were both given yellow cards.
Ross Byrne was fresh from his late kicking feats for Ireland against Australia. He was lethal with the kick for the URC leaders and clinically eliminated five conversions in addition to an early penalty.
With Saturday night’s win, their lead at the top of the URC for Leinster is now nine from nine matches.
Ulster, who appeared to be in control of this game and on course to win a major victory until Kelleher’s try in the first-half injury time changed the momentum.
Kingspan’s outfit suffered a further setback when they were placed in fourth place at the table. This was after being in second position the previous day.
Ulster played against the wind. Ulster’s stubborn defence forced mistakes from their hosts. Byrne, Cooney and Healy had both scored penalties each. Healy was then sent off for a head-to–head collision with Tom Stewart on 21 minutes.
McFarland’s men immediately took full advantage of McFarland’s men, with Stewart just off the bench when Herring broke away from an outstanding maul after a line out to cross for the first try.
Treadwell won the cross on 29 minutes thanks to more aggressiveness from Ulster’s packs. Ethan McIlroy crossed from halfway six minutes later. Stewart Moore had correctly timed his pass for him on the right wing.
John Cooney, who spoke at the week about the possibility that allegiances could be switched from Ireland to Scotland. He made two conversions and took a penalty before getting hurt in the second half.
Kelleher’s second try was similar to Ulster’s first. He kicked to the corner, followed by a great line-out. Then the hooker scored.
A few errors by Ulster immediately after the break set a tone for the remainder of half. Hume received his yellow card due to a clash of heads and Ringrose shortly before the stand in Leinster skipper was awarded his first try.
Three minutes later, a beautiful Ringrose dummy saw him grab his second. This put them at 24-22, with Timoney having to leave for an infraction in the maul that led up to that score.
Byrne converted an Andrew Porter try and Leinster was strengthened. James Lowe almost walked across the line to score their last try on 76 minutes. Carter earned at least a try bonus for Ulster in that final minute.
Leinster: Keenan; O’Brien, Ringrose, Osborne, Lowe, Byrne, Gibson-Park; Healy, Kelleher, Ala’alatoa, Ryan, Jenkins, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan,
Replacements: Sheehan, Porter, Furlong, Molony, Doris, McCarthy, Tector, Turner.
Ulster: Lowry; McIlroy and McCloskey; Moore. Burns, Cooney, Warwick, Stewart. Moore, O’Connor. Treadwell. Henderson (capt), Rea. Timoney.
Replacements: Herring, Reid, O’Toole, Carter, Vermeulen, Doak, Stockdale, Rea.
Referee: Christophe Ridley