Ian Costello hails Tom Farrell’s hat-trick heroics on a mixed night for Munster
Coach Pic: And Ian Interim Cardy/sportsfile Head Munster Attack Left, Munster Prendergast, Ramsey Coach Costello Mike
Ian Costello hailed Tom Farrell’s hat-trick heroics in Belfast but the interim boss was forced to take the rough with the smooth as Munster snatched a 22-19 victory at URC derby rivals Ulster.
Farrell’s three tries and all-round performance was worthy of the man of the match award picked up by the centre who was a close-season signing from Connacht and his brilliantly finished third wiped out a 19-15 home lead to give the visitors a bonus-point win at Kingspan Stadium that had barely seemed possible after a first half of some terrible, error-strewn rugby from both sides.
Ulster had led 7-5 at the interval, Farrell having replied to Tom O’Toole’s opening try, converted by John Cooney, on seven minutes with his first of the night on 20 minutes later.
Yet the opening period was dominated by poor discipline with Ulster losing O’Toole to a red card on 31 minutes for a collision at a ruck that saw Farrell’s midfield partner Alex Nankivell hobble out of the game after the Ireland prop flopped onto the Munster back’s exposed leg as he clamped down over the ball.
The second half was much more open and exciting affair, Farrell claiming his second soon after the restart, Ulster hitting back through replacement forward Harry Sheridan on 64 minutes, before Munster edged back in front through wing Shane Daly two minutes later.
Back came the home side, flanker James McNabney edging them back in front with five minutes remaining, Cooney’s conversion opening a four-point lead in the dying minutes, only for Farrell to steal the show and maximum match points at the death.
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Jack Crowley’s conversion was the final action of the game as Munster climbed above Ulster in the URC table and jumped from 11th to fifth place ahead of Saturday’s round-eight fixtures.
“A cracking finish, it’s a very difficult place to come and win, never mind coming out of here with five points,” interim head coach Costello said.
“I can't stress enough how good Tom has been for us this season. He's played so many minutes.
“We were joking that he's played his quota for last season and we're not even halfway through yet. He's been brilliant on and off the pitch, but tonight was definitely his best on-pitch performance.”
Yet the concession of 15 penalties and a second-half yellow card for replacement back Rory Scannell, a week on from conceding 17 in the Champions Cup pool defeat at Castres, and a string of unforced errors made life very difficult for Munster, as Costello admitted as he turned his attention towards next Friday’s post-Christmas derby against league leaders Leinster at a sold-out Thomond Park.
“Loads to concern ourselves with around the performance to improve on, but loads to love about the character, the belief in the squad to score some cracking tries. Particularly that one at the end.
“We have a long bus trip home, but I don't think I'll look at it on the bus home to be honest.
“It was about outcome tonight, us versus them. They had injuries, we had injuries, it was always going to be attritional. We're very disappointed with the amount of pressure we put ourselves under.
“An awful lot was down to our execution, or lack of execution around how we came out of our own 22.
“We had some massive defensive sets and then had one or two soft ones that gave them entry again. That's what we have to look at. As the season goes on that will punish us, but we will get the balance with the positives.
"There was some outstanding attacking rugby once we settled into our rhythm, and we'll focus on that and enjoy that for 48 hours and then prepare for a pretty big one next week as well.”