Tony Buckley (left) scored one of Munster's tries

Munster (14) 35
Tries: Buckley, O'Driscoll, O'Gara, O'Leary, Coughlan, Howlett
Cons: O'Gara 4, Warwick 2

Ulster (6) 6
Pens: O'Connor 2

Munster kept alive their Magners League title hopes as Ulster fell apart in the second half at Musgrave Park.

Ulster showed first-half promise but they gifted tries to Tony Buckley and Mick O'Driscoll as Munster led 14-6.

The visitors failed to add to Niall O'Connor's two first-half penalties as Munster notched four further tries.

Ronan O'Gara scored after a dreadful Ulster line-out and Tomas O'Leary, James Coughlan and ex-All Black Doug Howlett added further tries.

The bonus-point win still leaves Munster 11 points behind Leinster but Declan Kidney's side have a game in hand and they also have still to play their Irish rivals next month.

Ulster's line-out was in disarray right from the start and lively scrum-half Tomas O'Leary nearly punished an over-throw from Rory Best in the opening minutes.

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Poor Ulster defence enabled giant Tony Buckley to barge over from close range in the ninth minute after a Munster drive.

O'Connor replied with an Ulster penalty in the 17th minute and the visitors then produced some enterprising rugby to put the Munster defence under some pressure.

However, Munster were by far the more clinical outfit and Mick O'Driscoll notched their second try five minutes before the break after Ulster had again failed to organise their defence during a ruck.

O'Connor struck Ulster's second penalty in first-half injury time but it proved to be the northerners' final score of the evening.

Doug Howlett scored one of Munster's second-half tries

Their fate was effectively sealed a minute after the break when Best's line-out dart flew way long and O'Gara had the simple task of running in under the posts.

O'Gara then turned provider on the hour with his low cross-kick kick giving O'Leary the simple task of touching down.

By that stage, O'Leary was operating at wing after Peter Stringer's introduction.

Tempers flared in the 68th minute after Ulster prop Tom Court's late tackle on Lifeimi Mafi with several players getting involved in some ugly scenes.

Court was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card for the offence.

As Ulster continued to wilt, replacement James Coughlan and Howlett were able to add late tries and fly-half replacement Paul Warwick maintained Munster's 100 per record from conversions.

Munster: D Hurley, D Howlett, K Lewis, L Mafi, B Carney, R O'Gara (capt), T O'Leary, M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, N Ronan, A Foley.
Replacements: D Ryan for Lewis (67), P Stringer for Carney (60), P Warwick for O'Gara (71), J Hayes for Horan (60), F Sheahan for Flannery (66), D O'Callaghan for O'Driscoll (60), J Coughlan for Foley (71).

Ulster: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trmble, P Wallace, M Bartholomeusz; N O'Connor, P Marshall; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), T Court, J Harrison, R Caldwell, N Best, D Pollock, N Best.
Replacements: M McCrea for Bartholomeusz (80), R Dewey for O'Connor (74), I Boss for Marshall (51), B Young for J Fitzpatrick (63), N Brady for R Best (74), R Wilson for N. Best (75), M McCullough for Pollock (49).

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).