Low scoring it may have been but for putting fans through the emotional wringer, this URC QF Interpro seeing Connacht deservedly edge out Ulster 10-15 to reach the last four.

David McCann made a sprightly start with turnovers and ferocious carrying leading to a flurry of early scrums as the ball yo-yoed back and forth during the opening ten minutes. 

After a quarter of an hour, Connacht carved Ulster open but playing under advantage, Jack Carty’s kick wide came to nought.  They then knocked on and handbags ensued with muckers Rory Sutherland and Cian Prendergast warned by referee Adam Brace, the pair like naughty schoolboys reprieved of sin bins.

Moments later, Connacht centre Tom Farrell scythed straight through a gaping defensive hole but selfishly elected not to square to his scrum half Caoilin Blade who was better placed to score.

Their profligacy was punished by John Cooney slotting a penalty with twenty minutes played for the night’s opening score.

Sutherland, starting shakily, coughed up a kickable penalty shortly after, Carty’s kick this time familiarly flawless to level the sides.

A half full of jitters saw flare, fleet-of-foot players Mike Lowry and Mack Hansen depart with HIAs.

Prendergast ignited the contest with an audacious run and chip which bamboozled the defending Robert Baloucoune who was pinged for holding on.  Carty clinical to hand the Galway province a lead which their play merited.

Two more penalties from Carty, sandwiched either side of half time, took Andy Friend’s men to a nine-point lead as Ulster’s breakdown, quite literally, broke down.

Luck didn’t shine on Prendergast when the flanker crossed with the try ruled out as Blade was adjudged to have knocked the ball forward.

Connacht kept their foot firmly to the throttle, a blind pass from Bundee Aki denying them next.

Ulster, through a combination of dogged defending and frustrated Connacht players allowed them to clear up field at last.

Both teams introduced their try-scoring ace hookers as Tom Stewart and Dylan Tierney-Martin entered the fray, Ulster seeking a timely score of any sort from anyone in white.

Baloucoune’s blistering break on the hour roared the home crowd into life, but the returned Hansen showcased his nous with a critical defensive turnover.

A Stewart surge muscled Ulster to within touching distance and captain Alan O’Connor dived over from close range, Cooney’s conversion lifting the lid at the Kingspan.  10-12 with fifteen to play.

Another Hansen tackle got a tiring Connacht out of the trenches as the tension simmered, with time ticking down for the home fans.

The hosts were their own worst enemies again as cheap concession of the ball saw Connacht canter back up, work the phases and Carty’s fifth successful kick threw down the gauntlet to Ulster entering the final three minutes: ‘You have to score a try and convert to go through.’

That was the ferocious marker and Ulster, as they had performed all night, fell flat.  Connacht producing an epic game to seal a surprise SF slot in South Africa against Bulls or DHL Stormers.

For the home side and their departing men, the meek manner of their main performance tonight will rankle, a crushing pill to curtail their campaign.