Midway through the Celtic League, and Connacht have finally found some winning form. It came at the expense of an Ulster side that had high hopes of maintaining their push for the top, and three successive defeats certainly will not have given Mark McCall men's much seasonal cheer.
However, Saturday's New Year's Eve fixture at the Galway Sportsground was as much about Connacht's rehabilitation.
Crucially they have stopped the rot after nine consecutive league losses. With the same team that played in Worcester, the European Challenge Cup appears to have proven the catalyst.
"We played very well against Worcester in both games with the majority of players from that side," said coach Michael Bradley. "That was a factor.
"From our point of view we are following on from that performance over Worcester.
"The energy levels of our guys were high enough to carry them over the line. Ulster had a huge match against Leinster and they had to put their frontliners out again."
Ulster, with all their big guns bar the injured Matt McCullough, travelled with the expectation of victory and a bonus point.
They failed, however, to plan adequately for a Connacht side at full throttle.
The visitors did start brightly with an early David Humphreys penalty, but four kicks at goal from the Ireland outhalf proved their only return - and those points came in the first half with the wind at their backs.
"We were outplayed and we have no excuse," said McCall. "We did not play well in the first half, and the lead at half-time was not good enough.
"In addition to failing to use the elements, we then conceded a try that meant we only had a 12- 7 lead, and when they scored soon after, it meant against the wind we were always going to be chasing the game."
Although Ulster went in at the break with that five-point lead, Connacht were certainly the happier. Against the wind, the home side demonstrated their ability to keep the ball in hand and were rewarded with a 22nd-minute try by Matt Lacey.
Ulster's first points came after just two minutes when number eight Colm Rigney was penalised in the ruck - a repeat offence would later see him sinbinned.
Given the ability of Humphreys to kick for the corners in a bid to keep Connacht pinned back, Ulster would have expected to capitalise.
They did enjoy some territorial advantage, but it was Connacht who played all the rugby.
"We played very well against the wind, and our tactical awareness and leadership were strong today," said Bradley.
"The key was our discipline. The boys got a fair hammering last week against Munster and in fairness to them they chose to do something about it. If we had conceded the same number of penalties to Ulster as we did to Munster, then we would have lost.
"The score in the first half was a huge bonus, and if we can maintain that level of performance, we will be very happy."
Connacht's forwards consistently opted for the sensible pick-and-go tactic, well executed thanks to the huge efforts of Rigney, John Fogarty, John Muldoon and captain Andrew Farley.
Although Ulster put their noses in front, Connacht capitalised on a midfield mistake to set up their first scoring platform of the day, from which Lacey scored, with David Slemen adding the conversion.
Crucially Connacht got the first score after the break following a lineout steal, and Slemen, who alongside scrumhalf Chris Keane guided the game with some intelligent kicking, slipped in between the defence to level the game.
The expected reaction from Ulster did not materialise until Connacht had the game sewn up.
When Matt Mostyn looked to have overshot a pass, he somehow managed to control possession and stride through the bemused Ulster cover to set up Conor McPhillips for a third try.
Slemen consolidated the lead with a difficult touchline penalty and then repelled Ulster's attempts at a late rescue plan.
And having been denied possession for much of the day, Ulster - when they did get the ball in hand - found no way through Connacht's resolute wall of defence.
SCORING SEQUENCE
3 mins: D Humphreys pen 0-3; 17: Humphreys pen 0-6; 22: M Lacey try, D Slemen con 7-6; 30: Humphreys pen 7-9; 34: Humphreys pen 7-12 (half-time 7-12); 45: Slemen try 12-12; 55: McPhillips try, Slemen con 19-12; 62: Slemen pen 22-12.
TEAMS
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson, J Hearty, K Matthews, C McPhillips; D Slemen, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: M Swift for Farley (54 mins), A Mailei for Robinson (75 mins). Sinbinned: Rigney (77 mins).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, A Trimble, P Steinmetz; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, S Best; J Harrison, R Frost; N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: I Boss for Campbell (49 mins), B Young for Fitzpatrick (54 mins), J Topping for Maggs (64 mins), R Caldwell for Frost (70 mins), S Ferris for McMillan (74 mins).
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU)
