Jack Carty's late missed conversion enabled Ulster to see out a 22-20 Interpro victory to end their losing run thanks to a brace of Tom Stewart tries.

The late drama hadn’t looked at all likely after an error-strewn first half in Galway.  It took until the twenty-eight minute for the first score.

And it came when winger Rob Lyttle capitalised on a fortunate slap of the hand off Connacht’s Tiernan O’Halloran to scuttle in and ground in the corner.

Connacht captain Carty reduced the arrears to two points with a penalty, but Ulster went into the interval with multiple attacking opportunities spurned.

Yet an early score from Stewart four minutes into the second half rewarded a fast start, the hooker dotting down from a rapid maul drive.  John Cooney converted for 12-3.

Bundee Aki made a vital defensive tackle before Stewart scored his second of the evening, the youngster picking and going from close range.  His sixth URC try of the season and third against Connacht in two games. 

Despite Cooney converting, it was another scrum half, Caolin Blade got the Sportsgrounds up and roaring when he made a lightning dart off an attacking lineout.  Ulster asleep and duly punished.

With ten minutes remaining and Ulster pushing forward, they stretched the lead to fourteen points with a Cooney penalty but given the late collapse, will perhaps ponder the saying that attack is the best form of defence.

Substitute Greg Jones was sin binned for frequent in discipline and the visitors had a reprieve when Cian Prendergast’s try was disallowed.  But from the get-go, their brittle mentality was clear to see with Jarrad Butler bulldozing over through weak tackles, Carty converting and the hosts within a converted try of a draw.

As the clock came into added time, another sub, Adam Byrne surged for the line, annihilated David Shanahan out of the way and grounded to send Galway into giddy pandemonium.

The conversion, whilst certainly not a gimme, was curled wide by Carty and Dan McFarland could breathe an almighty sigh of relief.

His side’s fragility became all too clear as they folded under pressure and have Stewart to thank for a first win in four.  Improvements are needed if they are to overcome Munster in their next Interpro. 

Connacht will rue their sporadic scoring threat for seventy minutes and know that Leinster at the RDS will be an even bigger test.

Their late comeback was so nearly the Christmas gift their fans craved but it came gift-wrapped from Ulster and declined by Carty’s late missed kick.