Late John Cooney penalty hands Richie Murphy second win as Ulster interim coach

It fell to replacement John Cooney to do the needful as just when Ulster thought the game was lost – Theo Cabango seemingly having scored his hat-trick only for it all to be called back for a deliberate knock-on – they were given a final shot.

Cooney didn’t falter and after struggling for so much of this encounter, Ulster had their four points bagged … just.

It also brought Richie Murphy only his second win and first at Ravenhill too but no-one will take huge credit from this arm-wrestle, just relief at getting the job done.

Now they move on towards another home game against Benetton in the full knowledge that they have played a get out of jail card.

On a glorious evening for rugby, it would have been ideal for Ulster to get off to a good start back in front of their home crowd for the first time since early March and, of course, with a pressing need to register a positive outcome.

It didn’t exactly start in glorious manner, James Hume hitting his opposite man in the air, Tom Stewart requiring a fair amount of attention on the deck and then later on Nathan Doak missing touch with a penalty and then kicking the ball dead from another penalty the latter one on six minutes.

Ulster survived an early Cardiff surge towards their line, which came off a breakdown penalty, Eric O’Sullivan snaffling the loose ball but still the errors came, Will Addison’s pass to free Michael Lowry on the right wing being thrown forward.

As a result, it was hardly a surprise that the visitors struck first, a penalty put to the corner in the 11th minute resulting in winger Theo Cabango sliding through some soft tackles to score. Tinus de Beer converted, and Ulster were in trouble.

Then more misfortune for the hosts as James Hume went down from taking contact – he was helped off the field shortly afterwards – and while receiving attention, Jacob Stockdale dropped a high ball and Cardiff could have scored from the counter but for a knock on with men free on the flank.

Ulster’s reshuffle saw Addison go to midfield with Michael Lowry stepping in to 15 and replacement Ethan McIlroy coming on and heading straight to the wing.

Hardly ideal for Ulster who regardless of their personnel issues just weren’t at the pace of the game with over 20 minutes having elapsed.

A Jake Flannery break then led to nothing other than a chase to the line but this seemed to finally rouse Ulster from their torpor though from a good position in Cardiff’s 22 the hosts were pinged at a scrum and the advantage was lost.

Then in the 26th minute, Ulster earned themselves a penalty, allowing Doak to call for the tee and have a shot at goal. He bisected the posts and Ulster were finally off the mark.

Then shortly after Taulupe Faletau had departed on his first game back since the World Cup, Ulster went to the corner off a penalty and though Tom Stewart knocked on when the maul went to ground, they were awarded another penalty though this time Dave Ewers was held up in the inevitable driving maul.

With Michael Lowry looking lively when he had the ball Ulster did at least make several useful-looking linebreaks though they all came to nothing for the home side as the half began to peter out.

But Ulster did visit the scoreboard again after a no-arms tackle, Doak landing the penalty to narrow Cardiff’s lead to a solitary point which is how it ended after the first 40 minutes, Doak kicking the ball dead to allow the home team a much-needed chance to regroup.

The second half opened with Billy Burns emerging for Jake Flannery though one of his first acts was to be charged down which was hardly promising and so it proved shortly afterwards when Cardiff worked the ball to the wing which saw Cabango round Jude Postlethwaite and step in to score under the sticks.

De Beer converted and it was the worst possible start for the already bedraggled looking hosts.

What appeared to be a performance rapidly heading south – Only Addison’s tackle preventing Cabango from possibly nailing a hat-trick – was then added to when Jacob Stockdale was done for a deliberate knock-on, referee Mike Adamson having no choice but send him to the bin.

On 53 minutes, a neat inside pass from Addison had Marcus Rea barrelling through only for Mason Grady’s tackle to force a knock-on which seemed sum up Ulster’s evening up to this point.

Sensing that time was slipping away, Ulster launched a rare sortie deep into Cardiff territory with Stewart making ground which led to a penalty.

From the scrappy lineout, Ulster drove it up to the Cardiff line and after Tom O’Toole had surged forward, David McCann got over for a vital score.

Replacement John Cooney converted, and Ulster were now a point behind.

The comeback continued in the 65th minute when Cooney then kicked a long-range effort when Cardiff were penalised at a breakdown, putting the home team in the lead for the first time in the game.

It was a lead they came perilously close to losing two minutes later when Thomas Young looked certain to score in the corner only for replacement Cormac Izuchukwu to wrap him up and dislodge the ball with his foot.

Then with less than 10 minutes to go Postlethwaite was pinged at a breakdown and De Beer put the visitors back in the lead.

With two minutes remaining, and Ulster on the attack Rhys Carre clearly knocked on from Cooney’s pass but the play ran to the other end where Cabango got over again.

Play was called back though and Carre yellow carded, presenting Cooney the chance to go for the posts.

He put the ball through the sticks and Ulster led again as the clock ticked into the red. They held on to limp over the line.

Ulster: W Addison, M Lowry, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, J Stockdale, J Flannery, N Doak, E O’Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson, H Sheridan, A O’Connor (Capt), D Ewers, Marcus Rea, D McCann. Reps: J Andrew for Stewart 61mins, A Warwick for O’Sullivan 51mins, T O’Toole for Wilson 51mins, Wilson for O’Toole 70mins, TC Izuchukwu for O’Connor 66mins, G Jones for Rea 70mins, J Cooney for Doak 55mins, B Burns for Flannery h-t, E McIlroy for Hume 18mins.

Cardiff: C Winnett, J Adams, M Grady, B Thomas, T Cabango, T de Beer, E Bevan, C Domachowski, L Belcher (Capt), K Assiratti, B Donnell, T Williams, A Mann, T Young, T Faletau. Reps: E Lloyd for Belcher 75mins, R Carré for Domachowski 52mins, C Parker for Assiratti mins, R Thornton for mins, E Jenkins for Mann 57mins, M Martin for Faletau 29mins, G Bertranou for Bevan 55mins, J Beetham for Winnett 3mins.

Ref: M Adamson (SRU)