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Live Reporting

Richard Petrie and Paul McIntyre

  1. Pulsating day of inter-pros

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht (FT)

    What a day to showcase inter-provisional rugby in Ireland.

    After 80,000 people packed out Croke Park to watch Leinster beat Munster, Ulster and Connacht served up a nine-try thriller in Belfast.

    You can catch up with that huge win for Leinster right here & all the details from Ulster's win over Connacht over here

    Until next time, it's bye for now.

  2. 'Massive for us' - Murphy on win

    Ulster 32-27 Connact (FT)

    Ulster head coach Ritchie Murphy with BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy:

    "It's massive for us. Five points at home and just what we needed to get back into competition, which was made difficult by a good Connacht team.

    "Our toughness and fight was really good. There are things we need to be better at - like overplaying in our area - but we're delighted with the win."

  3. 'I'm loving it' - Morgan on life with Ulster

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht (FT)

    Ulster's Aidan Morgan with the BBC Sport NI team:

    "It was a physical game and they'll be some sore bodies in there tonight. We knew with the conditions we'd have to dig real deep and we did that. We fought to the end. We knew how strong the Connacht team were."

    On settling in at Ulster:

    "I'm loving it. It's a really good squad with mix of experience and youth, and we're putting our game together. Hopefully I can use my speed and footwork to get us on the front foot. We've got weapons throughout this side and Jacob [Stockdale] is one of them."

  4. Bowe on Stockdale's Irish chances

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht

    Tommy Bowe
    Former Ireland winger on BBC Two NI

    If Jacob Stockdale wants to get back into the international scene, then he's got to get one over Mack Hansen.

    And tonight, I think he did that.

  5. 'Happy with character' - O'Connor

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht (FT)

    Ulster's Alan O'Connor speaking to BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy:

    "I'm happy with the character and guts we've shown, especially after the two defeats in South Africa. It was great to get my 250th cap along with my good friend Andrew Warwick, and also Nick Timoney who made his 150th.

    "It was great to play against my brother who was there for Connacht tonight. It was great fun."

  6. 'It could have been easier' - Cooney

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht (FT)

    Ulster's John Cooney, who was named Player of the Match:

    "It was always going to be battle and it came right down to the end there. We're a young squad and there's a lot to learn. It was a tough learning curve and it could have been a lot easier for us."

    "My rugby was good tonight... kicking off tee not so good! I was really excited for this game and was buzzing over the 80 minutes."

  7. 'Important to get job done' - Henry

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Two NI

    They'll learn an awful lot from this and it was massively important to get the job done tonight.

  8. Reaction time

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht

    Wow - what a game that was.

    Time for some reaction, starting with the player of the match John Cooney....

  9. Full-time

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht

    Josh Ioane's penalty brings an enthralling encounter to an end.

    After leading by two-points at the break, Ulster were pegged back by Connacht midway through the second half, and the visitors were looking like they were going to kick-on for the win.

    But a late red card to Connacht second row Josh Murphy turned momentum Ulster's way and Nick Timoney popped up with a few minutes to go to seal a hugely important bonus-point win for Ulster.

  10. Watch: Tierney-Martin pushes Connacht level

    Ulster 32-27 Connacht (FT)

    Connacht made it a special evening in Belfast and here's how they closed the gap to draw level with Ulster thanks to Dylan Tierney-Martin.

    Dylan Tierney-Martin touches down at the back of a rolling maul

  11. Penalty Ulster 32-27 Connacht

    Josh Ioane - 80mins

    With the last kick of the game, Josh Ioane converts a Connacht penalty which secures two-points for Pete Wilkins side.

  12. try

    Try - Ulster 32-24 Connacht

    Nick Timoney - 78mins

    And surely that confirms the win for Ulster. Although anything is possible the way this game has panned out.

    Another Ulster lineout leads to another maul and on his 150th appearance in an Ulster shirt, Nick Timoney gets over for the home sides fifth-try of the night.

    John Cooney comes up short with the conversion attempt as the home side lead by eight going into the last moments of the game.

  13. Ulster 27-24Connacht

    A great age of play also most sees Ulster get in at the corner.

    Ben Carson's kick just has too-much on it, but the last touch is a Connacht one and Ulster have a lineout five-metres from the Connacht line.

  14. Watch: McCann opens second-half scoring

    Ulster 27-24 Connacht

    Here's how David McCann pushed Ulster in front at the start of the second half before Connacht launched their comeback.

    David McCann extends Ulster's advantage

  15. Penalty - Ulster 27-24 Connacht

    John Cooney - 72mins

    From the resulting penalty after Murphy's red card, former Connacht player John Cooney drives the ball between the posts and Ulster are back in front with seven minutes of play left.

  16. Red card

    Josh Murphy (Connacht) 71mins

    Murphy sees red for a head-on-head collision with Ulster's James McCormick.

    Referee Andrew Brace consulted with his TMO but it was a clearcut decision.

  17. Ulster 24-24 Connacht

    Connacht take too long over a lineout and referee Andrew Brace isn't standing for it.

    Ulster are awarded a free-kick and we're on the Connacht 10-metre line.

  18. Ulster 24-24 Connacht

    Connacht are back on the attack as they look to get the score that would give them the lead for the first time.

    And they almost get in following a kick in behind the Ulster backline.

    But thankfully for Ulster, Nathan Doak is there before Mack Hansen.

    Ulster win a penalty and can now launch an attack of their own.

    Just over 10 minutes remaining but you feel that there are plenty of twists and turns to come yet.

  19. converted try

    Converted try - Ulster 24-24 Connacht

    Dylan Tierney-Martin (try); Josh Ioane (con) - 62mins

    Connacht draw level thanks to a try from replacement hooker, Dylan Tierney-Martin who touches down at the back of a rolling maul from a Connacht lineout.

    Maul tries are certainly the main takeaway from tonight's contest.

    Josh Ioane adds the extras and we're all square with just over 13minutes remaining.

  20. Replacements

    Ulster 24-17 Connacht

    Ulster make a double substitution with James McCormick and Nathan Doak replacing John Andrew and Aidan Morgan.