Munster came from behind at Deramore Park to snatch a dramatic 19-17 win over Ulster Ravens in the A Interprovincial
They trailed at the break 9-0 and were ten points down with nine minutes to go.
However, a Cathal Sheridan try converted by JJ Hanrahan and then a last gasp effort from Hanrahan that he converted himself gave Ian Costello's side the spoils.
Scott Deasy missed an early penalty from a good position and then created a clear cut try scoring opportunity with a well judged cross field kick that Paddy Butler collected but botched a two on one.
Penalty concessions spoiled good Munster territorial gain and allowed the home side grow into the game. They took the lead when out-half Richie McMaster, a late replacement for Niall O’Connor, kicked a 22nd minute penalty. He added a second and a third before Deasy again was wide of the mark in added time.
Six minutes into the second half and Munster finally got on the board, Johnny Holland scoring a try in the right hand corner, a score that heralded a greater urgency to the Munster play.
However playing into a stiff breeze they were forced to try play their way out of their own territory and when they turned over ball in the 62nd minute and lost Sean Henry to the sin-bin, McMaster extended his side’s lead with a 62nd minute penalty.
Four minutes later, again as Munster attempted to shift the ball wide, Ulster wing Chris Cochrane intercepted and showed a great turn of pace to score his side’s second try .
Awarded a penalty under Ulster’s posts and with Dan Tuohy binned, Munster opted for a scrum and off that Cathal Sheridan went over for a try. Hanrahan added the extras to leave just five points separating the sides with seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Right at the death Hanrahan pounced again for the leveling try before adding the touchline conversion.
Ulster Ravens: Ricky Andrew, Chris Colvin, Stuart McCloskey, Nevin Spence, Chris Cochrane; Ritchie McMaster, Blane McIlroy; Richard Lutton, Niall Annett, Conor Carey, Alan O'Connor, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry (c), Sean O'Connell. Replacements: John Burns, Michael Cromie, Glenn Sinnamon, James Simpson, Neil Faloon, Josh Pentland, Scott Gibson, Michael McCauley.
Munster: Johnny Holland (C Hircock 52nd min); Ronan O’Mahony, Danny Barnes, JJ Hanrahan, Ivan Dineen (C Bohane 67th min); Scott Deasy, Peter Stringer (C Sheridan 52nd min); James Cronin (K Griffin 70th min), Sean Henry (D Casey 60th min), Christy Condon (A Cotter 66th min); Philip Donnellan, Brian Hayes (S Buckley 68th min); Niall Ronan (C O’Flaherty 52nd min), Barry O’Mahony, Paddy Butler Capt. Replacements: Duncan Casey, Kevin Griffin, Shane Buckley, Cian Bohane.
