Ulster coach Richie Murphy couldn’t hide his disappointment after a last-gasp 29-26 defeat against Cardiff in the European Challenge Cup at the Arms Park.

Winger Werner Kok’s second try on 53 minutes secured Ulster’s try bonus point and put Murphy’s side into what looked like a commanding 14-point lead.

Ulster shipped two yellow cards in the last 13 minutes with Harry Sheridan and Ben Carson both being binned – and with it being 14 against 13 after Cardiff’s James Botham got a 10-minute cooling off period, Dan Thomas crossed for a converted try to level the scores with eight minutes to go.

Home out half Callum Sheedy struck the winning penalty with the last kick of the game.

placeholder image — Ulster's Werner Kok tackled by Tom Bowen in Cardiff during the weekend European Challenge Cup clash. (Photo by Simon Galloway/Getty Images)

Ulster left the Welsh capital with two points and are second in Pool 3, three points behind Stade Francais.

“It was a massively disappointing way to finish the game...at 60 minutes we had taken complete control and were 14 points up then a couple of things went against us,” said Murphy. “We got a little bit loose, we probably didn’t manage a couple of big moments over those next few minutes and a scrum penalty late on gave them a chance to kick the goal.

“It is amazing how many times Cardiff win with the last play of the game over here, but we knew that and we knew we had to play for the 80 minutes and we probably didn’t do that.

“I thought for 60 minutes we were really good, even the early score we conceded, the second score...I’m not sure how that is not a knock on, it hits his hand, hits his chest and goes forward, it is a knock on in the laws and I’m not sure how the officials missed that.

“We parked those situations really well and got our game going, it wasn’t perfect but I thought we moved the ball to space and dominated a lot of collusions in the middle of the park as well and at 26-12 we should really see that out.”

Despite the result, No8 Bryn Ward was happy to get his for European start for Ulster.

“It was really enjoyable, it was my first 80 minutes at senior level, it was class to get out there and I really enjoyed it and I’m keen to get back out there as much as I can,” said Ward. “We’re extremely disappointed I thought it was a game that we had in our hand and we let it slip, which is disappointing.

"But the lads will regroup...we’ll recover, get back in on Monday and get ready to take on Leinster on Friday.”

Ward thought the two yellow cards tipped the scales in Cardiff’s favour.

“We didn’t start as well as we wanted to but we got ourselves back in the game,” he said. “Second half I feel the game got away from us at times, we were camped in our 22 at times and it is hard to get out, especially when you have two yellow cards...a difficult game and tough one to take.”

ULSTER: S Moore, W Kok, J Hume, B Carson, Z Ward, J Flannery, C McKee, C Reid, T Stewart (captain), T O'Toole, H Sheridan, C Irvine, D McCann, S Reffell, B Ward. Replacements: J Andrew, A Bell, R McGuire, C Izuchukwu, J Augustus D Shanahan, J Humphreys, B McNamara.