Dan McFarland said Ulster have a "big issue" when it comes to closing out games after they fell to a last-gasp loss to Munster.
Having survived a nervy finish against Connacht before Christmas, Ulster were punished for another late collapse on New Year’s Day as Ben Healy’s try from the final play consigned them to a fourth defeat in five matches.
Ulster led for the majority of their latest interprovincial derby in Belfast but had only three John Cooney penalties and an unconverted Robert Baloucoune try to show for large spells of dominance.
Baloucoune’s try put them 14-5 up with 13 minutes remaining but they allowed Munster back into the contest and were punished at the death.
"We were terrible," said Ulster head coach McFarland. "I don’t want to take anything away from Munster but ever there is a game where we decided our own fate, this is it.
"I think we had the ball 11 times in their 22 and scored once. We lost the ball on 10 occasions, I think I’m right in saying that. The only time we kept the ball through any number of phases, we scored a great try. We lost three lineouts and were profligate with the ball on a lot of occasions.
"To be fair to them, they looked magnificent when they were holding onto the ball. They got the ball three times in our 22 and scored twice. That was the game."
McFarland said the leg injury suffered by Marty Moore "doesn’t look good" after the prop was stretchered off on the half-hour.
Ulster led 9-0 at half-time, having survived a late Munster onslaught while Tom Stewart was in the sin bin. However, they conceded a try within four minutes of the restart when Paddy Patterson crossed in the corner.
"We had one really good set of defence on our line at the end of the first half and I thought that was a turning point, because I didn't think we could carry on being as poor in attack as we were in the first half, where on occasion we looked careless," said McFarland.
"It looked like we didn’t care how precious the ball was. Random chip kick over the top during the first half that was not on, it doesn’t make sense. Not catching the ball, turning it over in contact, slow to breakdowns, that was always going to come back and bite us."
When asked if he was concerned about Ulster’s finishes to games, McFarland replied: "It's a big issue. That’s just soft. I told them that last week.
"As a team we’ve got to toughen up there. On this occasion, there’s obviously an element of that, but the game was lost when we didn’t take those opportunities to score."
McFarland’s counterpart Graham Rowntree was proud of how his much-changed side kept fighting until the death and were rewarded with Healy’s late score.
Rowntree rested Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey and Peter O’Mahony for the trip to Kingspan Stadium, while Ulster welcomed back four of their Ireland contingent.
Despite being understrength, Munster were the better side for most of the second half, but looked set to come up short when Baloucoune scored just moments after denying Keith Earls at the other end.
But Healy proved the matchwinner on his first appearance since the November win over South Africa. He kicked a penalty to cut the gap to six points and then dived over from the last play and converted his own score to snatch a memorable win.
"That penalty decision was vital to take us to eight points," said Munster head coach Rowntree.
"Then the composure we showed. One thing we have spoken about all week is belief in our fitness. I feel that showed tonight, the way we kept hold of the ball, kept phase in that second half.
"It was good patience and discipline at the end of the game to get the try. I’m immensely proud of the lads.
"All the good stuff we’ve been doing on the field, with Mike Prendergast in particular, is coming out in our game. It's about keeping the belief."
Rowntree started Crowley at out-half in Carbery’s absence and the Ireland international dazzled during the second half, in particular when moved to 12 alongside Healy.
"He's not bad, he gets enough plaudits, doesn’t he?" joked Rowntree.
"He’s been good for us. He's a young man, he’s played three positions for us this season, showing incredible composure.
"He's turning into a nice leader as well. He’s progressing nicely."
