CONNACHT 44-16 ULSTER
If you are a Connacht fan, WHAT A GAME!
If you are an Ulster fan, our condolences. If you travelled over to Galway for this, we’re so, so sorry.
Kieran Keane’s men absolutely shredded a pitiful Ulster team at The Sportsground and left the pitch, soon after full-time, with jeers, cat-calls and ‘Jingle Bells’ ringing out.
Connacht got the party started as early as the fifth minute, when Eoghan Masterson got over, and the game looked up as early as the 10th when Bundee Aki shrugged off Peter Nelson and Jacob Stockdale to dive over.
John Cooney’s penalties were the only first half answer for Ulster but it was 20-6 at the break when Tiernan O’Halloran raced over to get his side’s third try and Jack Carty popped over a penalty.
Looks like men against boys in this #CONvULS game. Ulster getting pushed around the Sportsground.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) December 23, 2017
Ulster were under immediate pressure in the second half as they lost two men to the sin bin and conceded two more tries in 20 minutes, through the excellent Ultan Dillane and the returning Jarrad Butler.
37-6 ahead and set for a record win, Ulster then showed a modicum of fight when Louis Ludik was just about denied and Craig Gilroy got over for a good score.
Connacht responded to that with a great break through Eoin Griffin and Darragh Leader before Dillane showed up in support to canter over for his second try of the game. All told, Dillane was immense – landing five big tackles in defence, scoring his brace and making 41 metres off six carries.
Rob Lyttle got over for a consolation score but the Ulster team bus should be pretty silent on the road home.
“When we click, we’re good,” said Connacht captain John Muldoon after the game.
