Pro14: Munster 64-7 Ulster

Munster's Tommy O’Donnell celebrates his second try

Munster ruthlessly handed Ulster their heaviest defeat in Pro14 history with a nine-try thumping at Thomond Park.

Dan Goggin and Tommy O'Donnell scored two tries apiece to clinch a half-time bonus point for the home side.

Peter O'Mahony, Joey Carbery, Sam Arnold, Keith Earls and Alex Wootton also crossed in a 64-7 onslaught.

Darren Cave's consolation try could not mask a miserable night for Ulster, who also lost Iain Henderson and John Cooney to first-half concussions.

The record defeat ended Dan McFarland's unbeaten start at Ulster but it will also raise some serious concerns for the new head coach ahead of their next inter-provincial derby against Connacht on 5 October.

Munster continued their impressive home form but will next seek to secure their first away win of the campaign when they visit champions Leinster next weekend.

Fly-half Joey Carbery scored 18 points for Munster

Angry Munster set the tone

Munster head coach Johann van Graan was forced to reassemble his backline shortly before the start when fullback Mike Haley was ruled out but the incoming Wootton made an immediate contribution that set the tone for the night.

The winger showed impressive strength to break one tackle before speeding down the left wing and cutting inside where he found the on-rushing Goggin for a stunningly effective score with five minutes on the clock.

Ulster were back underneath their posts just minutes later as the home side had clearly been riled by the criticism of their 37-13 loss in Cardiff in round four.

Debutant scrum-half Alby Matthewson cleverly directed his troops down the narrow side and O'Donnell breezed through a weak attempted tackle and motored clear to score.

The out-standing Carbery punished a needless penalty with a long-range kick to push a relentless Munster into a 17-0 lead with 17 minutes on the clock.

Ulster's evening worsened when they lost their two most influential players through head injuries with Iain Henderson and John Cooney both failing to return from HIA checks.

Ulster scrum-half John Cooney was replaced in the first half after a head injury

In the absence of Henderson, Munster's forward pack took control to fashion another two tries in the closing 10 minutes of the first half.

O'Donnell was sprung from the tail of a well-executed lineout maul to power over and, although Carbery struck the post with his conversion attempt, there was no let up from the hosts.

In a thunderous finish to the half, the Munster pack hammered away at the Ulster line before Carbery flung out a pass to Goggin who was able to saunter over for the bonus-point try.

Uncharitable O'Mahony

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland introduced academy prospect Michael Lowry at fullback for the start of the second half and the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game in the opening minutes of the third quarter.

Alan O'Connor's muscular carry gave them some rare front-foot ball and quick hands by Billy Burns sent Cave through a tiny gap to score a much-needed try.

But Munster skipper O'Mahony was not in a charitable mood and he produced a pair of brilliant turnovers to wrestle momentum back in favour of his side before collecting Carbery's floated pass to dive over in the corner.

Munster wing Keith Earls marked his first start of the season with a try

Ulster left chasing shadows

The result was now beyond doubt but if Ulster had hoped that their hosts might start to ease up they were left disappointed as the game became increasingly open.

Wootton tiptoed his way along the left wing before flinging a pass infield that found Carbery at full pace and the fly-half sprinted clear to score a spectacular try that he converted himself before being called ashore.

Munster were now attacking at will and their guests were left chasing shadows as former Ulster centre Sam Arnold came off the bench to add a seventh try after he did brilliantly to hold onto Wootton's grubber kick and Ian Keatley converted to bring up the 50 points.

Earls capped his first start of the season with a clever try under the posts after Billy Holland's swivel pass sent him through a gap.

Jean Kleyn had a try disallowed for a knock-on but Munster completed their rout in the final minute as Wootton capped an astonishing performance with a deserved try in the left corner.

Defences win games

Munster head coach Johann van Graan on Premier Sports: "We wanted an improvement in performance and I thought we started really well with two brilliant tries and nine tries in all but the lineout functioned tonight our scrum were a lot better and I'm very proud of our defence tonight.

"All credit to Ulster, they put us under some tremendous pressure in our 22 but I thought defensively we were good tonight."

Ex-Ulster back Paddy Wallace on BBC Radio Ulster: "Results wise, Ulster haven't started the season too badly but it's probably been a case of John Cooney papering over some of the cracks in the first four matches.

"I think Ulster came here with a weakened team and with an eye on Connacht next week and on Europe the following week but I don't think the management team expected to come up against the juggernaut that was Munster today and they failed to compete in any facet of the game whatsoever."

Munster: Conway; Earls, Goggin, R Scannell, Wooton; Carbery, Mathewson; Kilcoyne, N Scannell, Archer; Beirne, Holland; O'Mahony (capt), O'Donnell, Stander.

Replacements: O'Byrne, Cronin, Parker, Kleyn, Botha, Williams, Keatley, Arnold.

Ulster: Nelson; Gilroy, Cave, Curtis, Kernohan; Burns, Cooney; Warwick, McBurney, Kane; O'Connor (capt), Henderson; Rea, Timoney, Deysel.

Replacements: Andrew, O'Sullivan, O'Toole, Treadwell, Ross, Shanahan, Lowry, Hume.

Sin binned: Andrew (67)