[tag=image]http://www.munsterrugby.ie/images/conte ... est-02.gif[/tag][tag=content]A last minute Paul Marshall try rescued a 23-23 draw for Ulster against Munster and ensured they went the entire Guinness Pro12 season unbeaten at home, but the main talking point was a red card to Ulster’s Iain Henderson.
Adjudged to have entered a ruck dangerously, Henderson was given his marching orders seven minutes from time and is at risk of missing the rest of Ulster’s Pro12 campaign.
Paddy Jackson was flawless with the boot during the game, landing five from five in an impressive kicking performance, while opposite number Ian Keatley notched six out of his seven attempts at goal.
Munster thought they had the game won in the late stages when Keith Earls crossed for a try, but Marshall’s last minute score made sure that the game ended even.
The first five minutes yielded mixed fortunes for Munster. Ian Keatley put them ahead through an early penalty from just outside the 22, but they also saw flanker Tommy O’Donnell helped off the field with an injury.
The visitors from the south had made the brighter start, but going 3-0 down kicked Ulster into action as they began to take the game to their visitors with some strong forward driving putting them on the front foot.
Their efforts were in vain though as they struggled to find the gaps in the Munster defensive line, and their momentum was also frequently halted by several injury stoppages on both sides, one of which saw Simon Zebo also withdrawn from the fray.
Roger Wilson then departed the action for Ulster, taking the injured tally up to three after just half an hour, before Keatley was on hand to land two more kicks at goal to stretch the Munster lead to 9-0.
Ulster rallied to force a penalty from a scrum moments before half-time which Paddy Jackson, handed the kicking duties ahead of Ruan Pienaar, duly converted to reduce the arrears to 9-3.
With the clock in the red, it looked like Ulster might just kick the ball out and head to the break, but a superb backhand pass from Iain Henderson set winger Tommy Bowe flying down the wing, and the international speedster broke two tackles to cross for the try.
Jackson once again converted, and from being scoreless three minutes before half-time, Ulster now led 10-9 at the interval.
The hosts picked up where they left off after the restart with Jackson notching a second penalty after Munster were found offside.
Munster, however, were determined to show the forward dominance they are renowned for and, with new props John Ryan and BJ Botha on the field, they put together two brutal shoves which yielded further penalties for Keatley.
Keatley added a third right in front of the posts midway through the half before Jackson kept Ulster in the game with a penalty of his own soon after, however the game was being played in midfield with no clear cut scoring chances.
With the scores delicately poised at 18-16 to the visitors, the moment the match will be remembered for occurred as Iain Henderson dove over the top of a ruck, connecting with the retreating Ronan O’Mahony.
The replays on the big screens around the Kingspan Stadium only made Nigel Owens’ decision easier – a straight red for the flanker and Ulster down to 14 men for the remaining seven minutes.
Munster immediately made that extra man count as they worked their way into the Ulster 22, then flung the ball out wide to the waiting Keith Earls who cut inside to score what seemed like the game winning score.
However, Keatley was wayward for the first time in the game with the conversion, and that would prove crucial as Ulster went all out in the search of the score that would win the game.
And it came with just seconds remaining on the clock as Stuart McCloskey came agonisingly short of scoring the try himself under the posts, but when the ball came out it was passed out wide to stand-in winger Paul Marshall who dove over for the try.
All the pressure was on Paddy Jackson to land the conversion from the touchline, but the 22-year old showed nerves of steel in front of Joe Schmidt to slot the kick and grant the hosts the draw.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Bowe, Marshall
Cons: Jackson (2)
Pens: Jackson (3)
For Munster
Try: Earls
Pens: Keatley (6)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave (Stuart McCloskey 55), Peter Nelson (Paul Marshall 63), Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8) Callum Black (Andrew Warwick 60), Rory Best, Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 51), Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson (Robbie Diack 29).
Subs not used: Rob Herring, Clive Ross, Ian Humphreys.
Red card: Iain Henderson (73)
MUNSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Felix Jones, Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo (Ronan O’Mahony 26), Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; (1-8) Dave Kilcoyne (John Ryan 40), Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer (BJ Botha 48), Donnacha Ryan, Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell (Jack O’Donoghue 3), CJ Stander.
Subs not used: Duncan Casey, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan.
Man of the Match: CJ Stander (Munster)
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Attendance: 17,139[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 23-23 Munster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators
