Munster 17 Ulster 20:Munster's proud 18-game unbeaten home record finally fell as Ulster got the better of their southern rivals to move temporarily second in the Celtic League.
Declan Kidney's side endured their first home defeat since falling to Edinburgh Gunners in April 2004 as Ulster, having survived sin-binnings for Justin Harrison and Isaac Boss, and two Munster tries in the final quarter, held on in a titanic Musgrave Park tussle.
Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe scored first half tries, topped off by two David Humphreys penalties, for a 20-3 Ulster lead at the break.
Credibly, league leaders Munster roared back as Jerry Flannery and David Wallace bagged converted tries on 62 and 66 minutes, but Wallace's effort proved to be the final scoring act. Humphreys kicked Ulster in front on 11 minutes as he punished Mick O'Driscoll for an offside.
Ronan O'Gara drove over a drop goal in reply before Trimble plunged over for his try on 14 minutes. Full back Bryn Cunningham created the score with a chip ahead and lanky centre Trimble beat out former rugby league star Gary Connolly for the touchdown.
Humphreys converted for 10-3 and while Munster's game was pockmarked by turnovers, they should have levelled again on 26 minutes. A scampering 50-metre run from David Wallace deserved better, but winger Anthony Horgan fumbled over the Ulster try line.
Three minutes later, Munster paid the price as superb continuity from Ulster produced their second try. Humphreys and hooker Rory Best combined to send Bowe weaving in off his right wing and past the tackle of Peter Stringer to score.
Humphreys converted and whacked over a 37th-minute penalty, from a metre inside his own half, to push Ulster 17 points in front.
Harrison was then yellow-carded for a silly spear-like tackle on O'Gara, but Ulster held firm with 14 men.
Seven minutes into the second half, replacement scrum half Boss, just on for the injured Kieran Campbell, was carded by referee Alain Rolland for slowing up a Munster ruck underneath the Ulster posts.
Mark McCall's men maintained their 17-point buffer until the 62nd-minute when, ironically, both Harrison and Boss had come back into play.
Munster lock O'Driscoll took a close-in lineout and the home pack mauled clean through for hooker Flannery to muscle over. O'Gara converted and added the extras to Wallace's try after the Ulster defence had been stretched again by the Munster pack.
Kidney's side had a chance to draw the game when they were awarded a 79th-minute penalty but O'Gara was called on to kick it to touch.
The subsequent lineout maul, perhaps summing up Munster's night, was lost forward and in the last seconds of injury-time, with just Bowe to beat, Horgan was also guilty of knocking on near the Ulster line.
Munster (3) 17. Tries:Flannery, Wallace. Cons:O'Gara 2. Drop Goals:O'Gara. Ulster (20) 20. Tries:Trimble, Bowe. Cons:Humphreys 2. Pens:Humphreys 2.