With home advantage through the play-offs at stake, Munster started the second half with greater intent but a McCann intercept led to Crowley shipping a penalty. Cooney's attempt off the tee, however, came back off the left post.

Into the last half hour, there were three tries in 10 minutes.

With Munster's forward replacements making an impact, the home side started moving the ball better and, when Crowley's offload to Gavin Coombes opened up Ulster, Craig Casey's pass found Calvin Nash for the try.

Ulster, however, summoned the perfect response with Matty Rea crashing over just four minutes later after a huge break through the middle by Cormac Izuchukwu.

After Ulster fumbled the restart, this time it was Munster with the almost immediate response as Daly crossed in the corner.

Munster would take the lead in the 69th minute through their maul, replacement hooker Eoghan Clarke the one to dot down after his side had turned down the kickable penalty to pursue the win.

With an advantage for the first time since the eighth minute, Munster ended the game on the front foot with Crowley's late penalty making the win safe but not denying Ulster their crucial, and deserved, losing bonus point.

Munster: Zebo; Nash, O'Brien, R Scannell, Daly; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, N Scannell, Archer; Snyman, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Kendellen, O'Donoghue.

Replacements: Clarke, Ryan, Jager, Ahern, Coombes, Murray, Carbery, Hodnett.

Ulster: Moore; Lowry, Addison, Postlethwaite, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; O'Sullivan, Herring, O'Toole; Treadwell, O'Connor (capt); Izuchukwu, McCann, Timoney.

Replacements: Stewart, Warwick, Wilson, Sheridan, Rea, Doak, Ewers, Sexton.