Summary

  • European Challenge Cup final - Montpellier 59-26 Ulster (FT)

  • Montpellier win third Challenge Cup with ruthless victory

  • Use our Get Involved button to have your say

  • Ulster's 20-year silverware drought continues and defeat means they will play in Challenge Cup again next year

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  1. converted try

    Converted try - Montpellier 33-12 Ulsterpublished at 46 mins

    Donovan Taofifenua (con Domingo Miotti)

    Montpellier quickly work it out left and Donovan Taofifenua produces a world class diving finish in the corner despite Nathan Doak's best efforts to stretch the lead!

    What a finish.

    Miotti slots the conversion and it's a long way back for Ulster now.

    Montpellier score tryImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Ooooh, Montpellier work it well through the hands and Donovan Taofifenua pops a little grubber kick through for Gabriel N'Gandebe, but Mike Lowry is there to save the try.

    He carries it over though so Montpellier have the scrum...

  3. Postpublished at 21:02 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Montpellier bang it into touch and have the line-out.

  4. Postpublished at 21:01 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

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

    I can see Richie Murphy trying to run this into 60 or 65 minutes before he brings anyone on. Maybe a Bryn Ward or a Charlie Irvine to try and firm up the line-out.

    I think Ulster need to be careful not to chase the game to early. They need to keep it a little bit tight and not be afraid to maul this pack. Tire their legs out and then close the line.

  5. Back under waypublished at 21:01 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Jack Murphy gets us going again and Montpellier immediately win a penalty and build off their scrum.

  6. Postpublished at 21:00 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Right, the players are back out.

    The last 40 minutes of Ulster's season. Will it have a happy ending?

  7. 'Murphy will be hugely frustrated'published at 20:58 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Tommy Seymour
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio Ulster

    Scores are hard to come by. We always knew that Ulster had the potential to score tries. It was their ability to stop Montpellier from scoring them that was going to be the challenge of the game.

    If you're Richie Murphy and you're looking up and you think you're getting into the game and then you immediately through soft mistakes or allowing Montpellier to play how they want to play, it's got to be hugely frustrating.

  8. Postpublished at 20:57 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Can Ulster defy the Bilbao heat and produce their biggest half of the season?

    As well as the immediate goal of silverware, their hopes of competing in next season's Champions Cup depend on it.

  9. Postpublished at 20:53 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    We've seen Richie Murphy shaking his head a few times in the coaches box.

    Huge team talk for him coming up.

  10. Postpublished at 20:52 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the San Mames Stadium

    Montpellier are so dangerous every time they get into the Ulster 22.

    They just seem to find an extra gear when they get a sniff of the try line.

    That turnover from Alexandre Becognee right at the end of the half was celebrated by their supporters as much as his fourth try. That felt like a big moment.

  11. 'Montpellier ruthless'published at 20:50 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

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

    Montpellier have identified weaknesses in Ulster's defensive system. They've managed to attack it. They've been ruthless.

    Ulster have shown enough. They're only two scores behind but at this moment in time, they just need to clean up a few bits.

  12. Get Involvedpublished at 20:48 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Can’t fault the Ulster effort but Montpellier looking like they can score at will. Just hoping Ulster can stay in the game as they can definitely score more points

    Fred, Portrush

  13. 'More mistakes than we expected'published at 20:48 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    It's been a really interesting half. There's been more mistakes than we would have expected given the conditions. Nerves will have played a part in that.

    Ulster had a great start. Montpellier came back into it. An unbelievable try from Izuchukwu, which if you get a chance to see on TV was worth every point of the five.

    Those mistakes from Ulster have just let Montpellier into it.

  14. Postpublished at 20:47 BST 22 May

    HT: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Ulster have not helped themselves at times but I make that four Montpellier tries from four visits to the Ulster 22.

    Clinical.

  15. Half-timepublished at 20:45 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Montpellier turn the ball over, kick into touch and that's the end of an extremely difficult half for Ulster.

    They have it all to do.

    Seriously impressive from Montpellier.

    HT Score: Montpellier 26-12 UlsterImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    HT Score: Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

  16. Postpublished at 20:43 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Stephen Ferris
    Former Ireland and Ulster flanker on Premier Sports

    You have to applaud the maul set up, when it looks like Ulster have stopped it, Montpellier go again. Ulster couldn't stem the physicality and pressure, there were two or three lining up to score. Ulster are massively under pressure now.

  17. Postpublished at 20:43 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 26-12 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ulster repel the initial drive and it just creaks. As soon as Montpellier get an inch, it buckles. They throw in an extra couple backs and control it nicely. Really hard to stop.

  18. try

    Try - Montpellier 26-12 Ulsterpublished at 20:43 BST 22 May

    Alexandre Becognee

    Montpellier look to get their driving maul going and this looks bad for Ulster.

    The French side keep rumbling towards the line before Alexandre Becognee dives over.

    There's just no stopping the Top 14 side at the moment. They are pressurising Ulster at every opportunity and punishing their mistakes.

    Montpellier celebrateImage source, Inpho
  19. Postpublished at 20:40 BST 22 May

    Montpellier 21-12 Ulster

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    It just looks a little bit rushed by Ulster. Montpellier are definitely turning the screw here.

  20. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Montpellier 21-12 Ulster

    Zac Ward is put under severe pressure near his own line. He wriggles clear but James Hume frantically slices into touch.

    The pressure is showing.