Munster’s response was immediate and with a steady platform being provided by their pack at the set piece they went in front with a 10th minute try from a five metre line-out, Ian Nagle getting on the end of a move, that involved Sam Tuitupou, Alan Quinlan and Duncan Williams, to score to the left of the posts.
Ulster enjoyed a period of territorial dominance before Munster regrouped to score a second try, this time Darragh Hurley crashing over, again after Munster had opted for a five metre line out rather than a shot at goal.
They ended the half with a third try when out-half Declan Cusack added the points to his own try for a 21-3 interval lead.
Ulster were the livelier from the restart with Jamie Smith and Ali Birch causing Munster all sorts of problems and their best chance cam when Smith took a marvellous high ball and broke clear only to run out of support. They pummelled the Munster line in the opening quarter and it resulted in a yellow card for Dave Foley, a harsh decision, before referee O'Dowd eventually penalised the home side for replacement out-half Scott Deasy to relieve the pressure.
Munster then took charge, a Duncan Willams break taking Munster into the Ulster 22 and after a bout of sustained pressure and with the penalty coming for offside, Billy Holland crashed over for his side’s fourth try.
Munster: F Jones (T Smith 51 min); S Scanlon, D Barnes, S Tuitupou, L O’Dea; D Cusack (S Deasy ht), D Williams capt (P Rowley 60 min); D Hurley (M Horan ht), M Sherry (D Fogarty ht), S Archer (J Hayes, temp & 46 min); D Foley, I Nagle; A Quinlan (B Holland 51 min), N Ronan (T O’Donnell 51 min), P O’Mahony (P Butler 51 min).
Ulster: J Smith; D McIlwhaine, D Cave, I Whitten, C Cochrane; N O’Connor, M Heaney; C Carey, J Burns, A Macklin; D Tuohy, N McComb; T Anderson, D McGuigan, A Birch. Replacements: K McCall, A Whitten, F Beacham, D Huston, P Pritchard, C Spence, R McBurney, M Allen, J Shiels.
Referee: Eanna O’Dowd (IRFU).
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