Ulster made short work of Munster at the Kingspan Stadium, running out 38-17 winners in a one-sided but entertaining encounter.
The northern province are now six points off the top of Conference A in the Pro14, although Leinster do have a game in hand.
The away side opened the scoring through a try from 23-year-old Shane Daly off of a brilliant move from the back of the scrum.
Joey Carbery converted to make it 7-0 on his first start of the season for Munster but it wasn’t long before John Cooney scored a penalty to make it 7-3.
The Ulstermen took control from then on, with Cooney scoring a try for the hosts after a brilliant move that started from inside their own half.
That left it 10-3 to Ulster after 18 minutes in what was an entertaining start to the match.
Robert Baloucoune went over in the corner for his side’s second try of the night after 34 minutes and when Cooney added the extras Ulster found themselves up 17-7.
Munster did manage to narrow the margin to seven points through a penalty on the stroke of half time, but Ulster were in control of the game at the break.
FULL TIME | Ulster 38 - 17 Munster!
Bonus point win for the Ulstermen!
#ULSvMUN #SUFTUMLive pic.twitter.com/kNqR1b4GgV— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 3, 2020
Dan McFarland's men came firing out of the blocks in the second half, with Stuart McCloskey putting Matty Rea into a gap as the flanker dove over for his side's third try.
Cooney converted, stretching the home side's lead to 14 and only one try away from the bonus-point.
It was Stuart McCloskey who came up with the well-deserved bonus-point try as the big man crashed over for a try after 57 minutes, putting the game to bed.
Jacob Stockdale further added to Munster's misery as he raced clear for Ulster's fifth try after stripping the ball from the arms of Sammy Arnold.
Johann van Graan's men did manage to get their second try of the evening with Niall Scannell going over off the back of a maul but by then, the game was beyond doubt.
Ulster take on Clermont in the fifth round of the Heineken Champions Cup next Saturday at the Stade Marcel Michelin in a game that looks set to decide Pool 3.
Munster face Racing 92 next Sunday at the Paris La Défense Arena in a game that could end their hopes of reaching the Champions Cup. knockout stages
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