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Well, it wasn't to be for Ulster tonight. They got off to a dream start when Nick Timoney crossed for a second-minute try, but there wasn't much to shout about after that as Montpellier's power and accuracy told.

It was a thoroughly impressive performance from the French side and they were deserving winners.

Another year in the Challenge Cup awaits Ulster. It will be tough to come back from such a crushing defeat on a big stage but with a slew of new signings set to arrive in the summer, they will approach the new season with fresh impetus.

Tomorrow, it's the biggie as Leinster face Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final. That one will be on BBC Radio 5 Live and we'll of course have blow-by-blow updates, analysis and reaction on the website & app.

Goodnight!

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Ulster winger Rob Baloucoune: "Tough conditions coming into that as the first game back and the result is bitterly disappointing. We were looking to come out and come home with the cup and that wasn't the case.

"We knew they would be strong, they're second in the Top 14 and we came out strong, started well but let them into the game through easy mistakes.

"If you let a team like that into the game easily you're always going to be in the bad side of it."

More from Richie Murphy: "I haven't said too much in there really. We are two years into the club, we're moving in the right direction but it's tough, we can see areas around our scrum and line-out need to improve to compete at the top level."

Ulster captain Nick Timoney speaking to Premier Sports:

On where it got away from Ulster: "A number of things really. They had their set-piece dominance in the scrum and maul and our defence off the back of it wasn't good enough. We probably just made it too easy for them with too many penalties."

Half-time mood: "We were down but we have such faith in our attack and know we can score points, so the 14 points (deficit) didn't scare us at all. But when we came out in the second half, we thought we could do it but they were too good in the end."

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy on the difference between the teams tonight: "A lot of power. I thought we started well going 7-0 up, a little mistake on an exit costs us seven points. We needed to get out ahead and we couldn't manage to do that. It was really difficult to play in the heat it cause a lot of slippy ball.

"We didn't want to make it a set piece game against one of the best teams in France and the world. We're a young side, we'll learn from this and move on. I can't fault the effort."

We'll have some reaction from the Ulster camp in the next few minutes...

The medal no one in white wanted...

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Ian Humphreys
Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys on BBC Radio Ulster

Right now there is a lot of pain. You can see a lot of sadness and disappointment in the team but I think whenever you sit back and we see how many Ireland representatives Ulster had this season, it's the most in a long time.

It's another year of experience for Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy. There's not many guys that played today that are going to be ageing out of this squad over the next while and so hopefully with the continued coaching and development, Ulster will continue to challenge in the URC and hopefully get back into the top table of Europe in the coming seasons.

Montpellier scrum-half Ali Price speaking to Premier Sports:

"We knew it was going to be a tough first 20 minutes. We knew Ulster were going to throw everything at us but we drew a lot of belief from holding them out in the first half.

"To finally get across the line, coming to a new country and club, it's pretty sweet."

Montpellier's Billy Vunipola speaking to Premier Sports:

"Montpellier has given me a new lease of life. It's been a great challenge, I've enjoyed it. Not yet [we haven't proven ourselves yet], we'll enjoy ourselves tonight but we have a big game next week.

"We played in the right areas. Every time we got in their 22 we asked them questions and that's what we needed to do."

Montpellier's season isn't done, of course.

They still have their eyes on the Top 14.

Ulster, on the other hand, head for a summer break before getting back to work ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Great moment for Billy Vunipola as he lifts the trophy.

Another piece of silverware in a decorated career that's yielded three Champions Cups and four Premiership titles with Saracens - and three Six Nations triumphs with England.

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Andy Goode
Former England and Leicester fly-half on Premier Sports

It was pretty much the perfect game for Montpellier. They have some big human beings that win you games and that was the difference tonight.

It's party time for Montpellier and richly deserved after that display.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Madigan
Former Ireland fly-half on Premier Sports

You learn a lot from finals and while it was tough to come out the wrong side, it makes you hungry to come back in pre-season. I think they can be top eight next season with a full compliment.

Ulster look utterly crestfallen as they go up to collect their runners-up medals.

They just can't wait to get out of Bilbao at this stage.

Tommy Seymour
Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

Ulster had a couple of bright sparks. Baloucoune's try in particular was wonderful to watch.

That being said, I said pre-game that you'd like to hope form goes out the window but bearing in mind Ulster's last couple of months domestically and where Montpellier are in such a competitive league as the Top 14 and the quality of side they put out, you almost had to take your hat off to Montpellier.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at the San Mames Stadium

Werner Kok, one of the departing players, is going around every single player to give them a hug.

There are a number of departures, but it's a sad way for the popular South African to end his time in Belfast.

Angus Bell also cut a dejected figure when he came off in the second half as he gets ready to head back to Australia.