Glasgow ... 17 Ulster ... 20: Having watched Munster defeat Connacht the previous evening, Ulster ensured Ireland will again be represented in the second Celtic League final by clinging on for victory in the mud against Glasgow to set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash in Limerick in the New Year.
Given Glasgow had not lost at their Hughenden home this season, and their chief executive David Jordan had described this quarter-final as the most important game in the club's history, this was a victory of real substance.
Alan Solomons' side had gone into the game with most of his squad having played little rugby since their final pool match against Llanelli six weeks ago and fears of ring-rustiness were well-founded. But Ulster showed no signs of waning in the final quarter.
It might have been a different conclusion if Glasgow's centre Tom Hayes had kicked two penalty chances, both in front of the posts. But he missed and proceeded to turn down four more chances as Glasgow went for the decisive try.
But Ulster managed to repel successive attacks from lineouts and scrums to secure what is their first victory away from home in the knockout stages of a competition since the European Cup final victory at Lansdowne Road in 1999.
A 14-10 lead to Glasgow at the interval was a fair reflection of the play but a purple patch by Ulster midway through the second half, with the introduction of Andy Ward, sidelined for the past two months with an ankle injury, their inspiration. Ward capped his return with a try on the hour following a scintillating 60-metre break by Ryan Constable, another second-half substitute. David Humphreys's conversion levelled the scores and four minutes later he kicked a penalty to nudge Ulster in front for the final time.
Ulster had the momentum to finish off their hosts but a malfunctioning lineout allowed Glasgow to launch a barrage of attacks to create a tense finale.
The ring-rustiness Solomons had feared seemed to hinder Ulster's opening. Hayes kicked a second-minute penalty and Glasgow should have been further ahead when Humphreys replied with a penalty of his own. After Shane Stewart had wasted a try-scoring opportunity, the visitors went ahead with a try by Paul Shields, a first-half replacement for Matt Sexton.
But having worked hard for this lead, they gave it away far too easily, with Jon Steel scoring a converted try in between two penalties by Hayes. When Hayes extended Glasgow's lead to seven points not long after the restart, the game seemed to be slipping from Ulster's grasp. But the visitors dug deep to chisel out the victory.
Meanwhile, Cardiff earned a semi-final place, against Neath, by defeating Edinburgh 26-22 on Saturday.
SCORING SEQUENCE
2 mins: T Hayes penalty 3-0
12 mins: D Humphreys penalty 3-3
33 mins: P Shields try, Humphreys con 3-10
35 mins: Hayes penalty 6-10
38 mins: J Steel try 11-10
40 mins: Hayes penalty 14-10
44 mins: Hayes penalty 17-10
60 mins: A Ward try, Humphreys con 17-17
64 mins: Humphreys penalty17-20
GLASGOW: S Moffat; J Steel, A Henderson, T Hayes, G Metcalfe; C Howarth, G Beveridge; D Hilton, G Bulloch, L Harrison, N Ross, A Hall, G Simpson, D Macfadyen, J Petrie. Replacements: A Bulloch for C Howarth (68 mins), A Wilson for D Macfadyen (68 mins).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, J Bell, S Young; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, M Blair, J Davidson, W Brosnihan, N McMillan, T McWhirter. Replacements: P Shields for M Sexton (25 mins), R Constable for S Stewart (47 mins), A Ward for T McWhirter (49 mins).
Referee: N Williams (WRU).
