Evening, and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s URC interpro clash in Belfast, where Munster are in town to take on Richie Murphy’s Ulster.

Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens. Kick-off is at 7.35pm, and as always, we’ll start by getting your score predictions in the comment section.

Here’s a reminder of how the two teams line up tonight:

Ulster

• 15. Michael Lowry
• 14. Werner Kok
• 13. Jude Postlethwaite
• 12. Stuart McCloskey
• 11. Zac Ward
• 10. Aidan Morgan
• 9. John Cooney

• 1. Andrew Warwick
• 2. Rob Herring
• 3. Tom O’Toole
• 4. Alan O’Connor (capt)
• 5. Kieran Treadwell
• 6. James McNabney
• 7. Marcus Rea
• 8. David McCann

Replacements:

• 16. John Andrew
• 17. Eric O’Sullivan
• 18. Scott Wilson
• 19. Harry Sheridan
• 20. Matty Rea
• 21. Dave Shanahan
• 22. Jack Murphy
• 23. Rory Telfer

Munster

• 15. Mike Haley
• 14. Calvin Nash
• 13. Tom Farrell
• 12. Alex Nankivell
• 11. Shane Daly
• 10. Jack Crowley
• 9. Paddy Patterson

• 1. John Ryan
• 2. Niall Scannell
• 3. Stephen Archer
• 4. Tom Ahern
• 5. Fineen Wycherley
• 6. Jack O’Donoghue (capt)
• 7. John Hodnett
• 8. Gavin Coombes

Replacements:

• 16. Eoghan Clarke
• 17. Dave Kilcoyne
• 18. Oli Jager
• 19. Evan O’Connell
• 20. Alex Kendellen
• 21. Ethan Coughlan
• 22. Rory Scannell
• 23. Brian Gleeson

Some pre-match reading here with Ulster’s Tom O’Toole:

“With Munster, it’s always physical and confrontational so they are going to try and go after you at every opportunity. It’s what we would expect from Munster no matter who’s playing for them.”

Kick-off!

We’re underway in Belfast.

TRY ULSTER! (O’Toole)

8mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

Ulster get into the Munster 22 after a big carry from James McNabney, and build some pressure before winning a penalty. Aidan Morgan kicks to the corner. 

From the lineout, Ulster go close but Munster hold them out with a big defensive effort, before conceding another penalty. Ulster pummel at the line again and win another penalty for offside. Rob Herring drives at the line before Tom O’Toole finally gets Ulster over, with John Cooney adding the conversion. Good start for the home side.

10mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

Poor errors as Munster captain Jack O’Donoghue is pinged for offside on the restart, and then Jack Crowley misses a kick to touch.

16mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

The errors really piling up here. Munster spill a lineout in the Ulster half and then Stuart McCloskey drops a pass he really should have held. Conditions look alright so both sides will hope their handling improves here.

As I type, Shane Daly meets Michael Lowry with a big hit but Lowry bounces off it and keeps his feet. 

22mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

Really frustrating for Ulster. They get back into the Munster 22 from a maul and pacey Lowry break. The home side work through some patient phases, with John Cooney at the heart of it, before they’re pinged for a croc roll. 

23mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

Ulster winger Zac Ward goes down heavily on his ankle in the tackle and looks in a fair bit of pain. He gets his left boot taped up and will try play on.

26mins: Ulster 7 Munster 0

And Zac Ward is now off, replaced by Rory Telfer. Not a whole lot else happening at the moment – it’s been pretty poor stuff so far.

TRY MUNSTER! (Farrell)

29mins: Ulster 7 Munster 5

Scratch what I was just saying, Munster have just sparked into life!

Tom Farrell does really well to finish in the corner, after quick hands by Jack Crowley, Mike Haley and Shane Daly. Crowley’s conversion is off target.

This game needed that!

RED CARD ULSTER! (O’Toole)

32mins: Ulster 7 Munster 5

Big, big moment.

Munster centre Alex Nankivell was in for a poach on Rob Herring, but a clear out from Tom O’Toole sends Nankivell back awkwardly on his left leg. It’s clumsy from O’Toole and he’s shown a red card. Nankivell plays on with his left knee strapped up.

39mins: Ulster 7 Munster 5

And now Stuart McCloskey’s night is done. Not sure what the injury is but he’s clearly in some discomfort, so he limps off and Jack Murphy is in for his debut.

HALF-TIME: Ulster 7 Munster 5

A strange ending to a poor 40 minutes in Belfast. Ulster have the ball in the Munster half after a scrum but Murphy kicks it dead.

I’m off to attack a box of Celebrations. Will be back with you in 15.

We are back at it in Belfast.

42mins: Ulster 7 Munster 5

And we’re something to look at straightaway. Jack Crowley leaves a boot out as he collects a high ball and it catches Werner Kok on the shoulder. The Ulster fans are not happy as the replay flashes up but there will be no further action.

48mins: Ulster 7 Munster 5

It’s getting a bit spicy now. Daly and Haley combine well for Munster before Haley is stopped. Ulster now looking to build some pressure from a lineout just outside the Munster 22.

TRY MUNSTER! (Farrell)

53mins: Ulster 7 Munster 10

Great try from Munster.

Crowley clips a short kick out wide and Farrell does well to offload inside to Haley. The Munster fullback is tackled but gets the ball out to Farrell who runs it home. Crowley misses the conversion.

57mins: Ulster 7 Munster 10

Ulster go close through Scott Wilson but the decision is no try. Munster’s penalty count rising as Ulster hammer away in the 22 with no reward.

From a third lineout in the corner, Ulster build some momentum before Wilson breaks away, but he’s stopped short. Marcus Rea nudges them closer to the line but referee Ben Whitehouse needs to check with the TMO….

And Rea was held up!

Another big passage of Ulster pressure ends with nothing on the scoreboard – it’s a goalline drop-out for Munster.

Yellow card Munster (Scannell)

62mins: Ulster 7 Munster 10

It’s all Ulster at the moment but Munster defending well – if living on the edge a little. Rory Scannell is shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on after sticking a hand out to a Cooney pass. It will be 14 v 14 for the next 10 minutes.

TRY ULSTER! (Sheridan)

67mins: Ulster 12 Munster 10

Ulster finally get their second try after some massive defence from Munster. Ulster had a lineout in the corner – their fourth in a short space of time – but they couldn’t push over the line as Alex Kendellen manages to get the rip.

Munster clear before another Ulster lineout. This time Kendellen is pinged for coming in at the side. Cue another lineout, which on this occasion gets Ulster’s maul moving before Harry Sheridan muscles over. They had to work hard for that one!

Cooney can’t add the extras so it’s a two-point game.

TRY MUNSTER! (Daly)

69mins: Ulster 12 Munster 15

How’s that for a response!

Munster strike back immediately with a well-executed score. A nice pass out the back from Brian Gleeson gets Munster’s attack moving and they work the ball wide to Daly via Nash and Farrell. Daly dummies the pass inside before backing himself to sprint for the line. He’s had a smashing game.

Crowley is well off target again from the tee as he misses his third conversion from the night.

71mins: Ulster 12 Munster 15

It’s all happening now!

Scott Wilson is stopped short after making a brilliant break for the line. Ulster get the reinforcements in before winning a penalty, with Munster warned they might have another yellow card coming. 

Ulster regather and try to muscle over, but they knock the ball on on the line. Big chance missed there.

74mins: Ulster 12 Munster 15

Wow!

Munster nearly go end-to-end after pinching an Ulster lineout as Farrell races up the pitch. He initially delays the pass out wide and when he goes for it, Kok has got back to intercept. A breathless passage of play. Munster hanging on to their slim lead here as we head into the closing five minutes.

TRY ULSTER! (McNabney)

78mins: Ulster 19 Munster 15

Ulster might just have grabbed the winner!

They’ve spent most of the second half deep in Munster territory and this time they batter their way towards the tryline, with a big carry from Wilson, before McNabney forces his was way over. Cooney converts and Ulster lead by four. Can they see it out?

TRY MUNSTER! (Farrell)

This is getting silly now! For the second time in this half, Munster hit back immediately. It’s a clinical attack from Munster, with Nash showing great hands before Tom Ahern makes a smart contribution and Farrell steps inside to score his hat-trick try. He’s been outstanding tonight.

Crowley converts and Munster steal the win!

FULLTIME: Ulster 19 Munster 22

What a game in Belfast! After a pretty horrible first half, the second 40 was a rollercoaster. Munster were really poor for large parts of the game but they leave with a bonus-point win. Ulster will wonder how they let that one slip.

Thanks for joining our live coverage. We’ll have a full match report from Declan Bogue on The 42 shortly, as well as all the reaction from both camps. Take care!