Summary

  • Connacht v Ulster (19:35 GMT)

  • Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle and the BBC Sport website

  • Both teams won their opening matches

  • Connacht ended Ulster's season in 2022-23 with win in URC quarter-finals

  1. That's a wrappublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    FT: Connacht 22-20 Ulster

    That is all from us after a disappointing night for Ulster in the URC as they suffered their first defeat of the season against Connacht.

    They were 20-3 up at one stage, but Connacht fought back to win by two points to move top of the table and continue their winning start to the season.

    You can read the match report from the game here.

    Next up for Ulster is a home again against Munster next Friday evening.

    Thanks for joining us, good night.

    KilgallenImage source, Inpho
  2. 'We stuck to our game plan' - Oliverpublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    FT: Connacht 22-20 Ulster

    Man-of-the-match Conor Oliver gives his thoughts on the game.

    "We worked hard and knew we would be in for a tough game," he said.

    "We stepped up in the second half and I think we always had a belief and stuck to our game plan and thankfully got the win."

  3. Full-timepublished at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 22-20 Ulster

    It's all over at the Sportsground, and it's a home win.

    Connacht go top of the URC and maintain their 100% start to the season. Tries from Cathal Forde, Tom Farrell and Diarmuid Kilgallen make the difference.

    For Ulster, it was a night of frustration, blowing a big lead to go down to their first defeat of the season.

    Dan McFarland will be looking forward to having his internationals back in the coming weeks.

    Next up Munster at Kingspan Stadium next Friday.

  4. try

    Try Connacht 22-20 Ulsterpublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Diarmuid Kilgallen (74 mins)

    It's been coming!

    Connacht pounding the Ulster line, before spreading left to Jack Carty, who expertly kicks to the left wing where Kilgallen catches and dots down. Much deserved for the men in green.

    Carty fails with the conversion from the touchline. Big last three minutes now.

  5. Postpublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 17-20 Ulster

    If Ulster somehow hold on here it would be unbelievable. They have barely been out of their half this last 20 minutes.

    A win would send them top of the URC.

  6. Close!published at 21:07 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 17-20 Ulster

    Andy Warwick gives away a penalty for the visitors and Connacht are awarded a penalty five metres out.

    This time refusing a simple three-pointer does not work out. Cian Prendergast is on the end of a tap-penalty move, but is well held-up over the Ulster line.

    Goal-line kick-out and Dan McFarland must be pulling his hair out.

  7. Replacementspublished at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 17-20 Ulster

    It's a new half-back pairing for the visitors, with Nathan Doak and Billy Burns on for Dave Shanahan and Jake Flannery.

    For the hosts, Caolin Blade limps off to be replaced by Colm Reilly. Blade was fantastic tonight.

  8. Big Chance!published at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 17-20 Ulster

    Ethan McIlroy with a fantastic break through the Connacht defence 40 metres out from the home try line.

    However, the winger couldn't pick out a relatively easy pass to Aaron Sexton outside him, who would surely have sprinted home.

    The ball flies high into touch.

  9. Penaltypublished at 20:55 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 17-20 Ulster

    Jake Flannery with the chance for an instant response with a penalty won just inside the Connacht half. However, the fly-half's kick is just left of the uprights.

    I wonder if it's anything to do with the suspected cramp in his calf he was surveying before the kick?

  10. try

    Try Connacht 17-20 Ulsterpublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Tom Farrell (54 mins)

    The term "knife through butter" springs to mind here.

    Jack Carty again right to go to the corner. A maul from five yards out sucks in Ulster defenders.

    The ball then spun left and Tom Farrell must have thought it was Christmas, with Ulster not even laying a finger on him despite defenders either side.

    Carty with the extras from the touchline.

  11. Penaltypublished at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 10-20 Ulster

    Connacht penalty 25 metres out. Jack Carty goes for the corner again...

  12. try

    Try Connacht 10-20 Ulsterpublished at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Cathal Forde (48 mins)

    Poor defending by Ulster, as the home side prove they were right to kick for the corner after winning a penalty on halfway.

    From the resulting lineout the ball is spread to the big centre Forde, who runs through unopposed to dot down.

    Carty makes no mistake with the conversion and Connacht are back in it.

  13. try

    Try - Connacht 3-20 Ulsterpublished at 20:36 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Dave Shanahan (42 mins)

    What an electric start for the visitors!

    James Hume runs an excellent line before offloading to Aaron Sexton who dashes towards the Connacht 22 before offloading to Shanahan. The scrum-half turns Tiernan O'Halloran inside out before diving over beside the posts.

    Jake Flannery with the extra two points.

  14. Kick-offpublished at 20:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 3-13 Ulster

    Jake Flannery gets the second half underway for Ulster.

  15. Half-timepublished at 20:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 3-13 Ulster

    After early dominance by Connacht, it's Ulster who lead at the break.

    Jake Flannery with all the visitors' points. A lack of ruthlessness has cost the home side so far.

  16. Penalty Connacht 3-13 Ulsterpublished at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Jake Flannery (37 mins)

    More infringements from Connacht at the breakdown giving Jake Flannery the simplest of kicks in front of the posts, and he makes no mistake.

  17. try

    Try Connacht 3-10 Ulsterpublished at 20:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Jake Flannery (34 mins)

    Second-rower Harry Sheridan shows fantastic pace and power to race through the middle of Connacht's defence.

    The big man then shows excellent dexterity to offload to Jake Flannery inside the 22, who runs an excellent line to dot down underneath the posts.

    Flannery gets up to slot the extras.

  18. Postpublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 3-3 Ulster

    Connacht so far not really missing Irish powerhouse centre Bundee Aki. They are punching holes in the Ulster backline, but just lacking some handling expertise.

  19. Postpublished at 20:12 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 3-3 Ulster

    Scrum-half Caolin Blade dummies and goes from a ruck inside the Connacht 22.

    The number nine then tears off towards the halfway line before kicking to touch just outside the Ulster 22.

    He really has been a live-wire tonight, the Connacht man.

  20. Close!published at 20:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 November 2023

    Connacht 3-3 Ulster

    Ulster close to getting the first five-pointer of the night.

    Nick Timoney leading the charge into the 22, before Jake Flannery spins it wide left to Aaron Sexton, but he is bundled into touch five yards out, close.