Ulster booked a place in the European Challenge Cup final with an empathic 29-12 win over the Exeter Chiefs.

Ulster will meet the winners of Montpellier v Dragons in Bilbao as they look to end their two-decade trophy drought.

Richie Murphy’s side outscored their opponents by four tries to two to book a first European final since 2012 – now only 80m minutes away from potentially ending their 20-year silverware frustration.

Ulster missed a chance to open the scoring as Nathan Doak’s long-range penalty drifted wide.

placeholder image — Ulster's Iain Henderson with fans following the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final win at the Affidea Stadium, Belfast over Exeter Chiefs. (Photo by Peter Morrison/PA Wire)

Ulster full back Mike Lowry had a try ruled out on 15 minutes as the home side were camped on the Exeter line. After a series of pick-and-goes, the ball was moved wide for Lowry to go over but the score disallowed after the intervention of the TMO for a neck roll by Cormac Iwuchukwu in the build-up.

Exeter centre Henry Slade was off-target with his first attempt off the kicking tee after the visitors forced a penalty at the scrum.

The deadlock was finally broken on 27 minutes as Ulster No8 Juarno Augustus scored from close range.

The home side forced a penalty in the shadow of the Chiefs’ posts and turned down an easy three points to take a quick tap. After a series of phases and with a penalty advantage coming the South African barged over with Doak adding the conversion.

Ulster were reduced to 14 men three minutes later as Ireland winger Jacob Stockdale was sin-binned for a high tackle on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

The Chiefs’ numerical advantage was made to count as they worked the ball across the field and Ross Vintcent went over from close range with Slade levelling the score with the conversion.

Ulster went into half-time with a three-point lead as Doak was successful with a penalty with the final kick of the first 40 minutes.

The home side got their second try on 47 minutes as they kicked to the corner but secured their own ball. The forwards made some hard yards before the ball was moved across the pitch from east to west to create space for out half Jack Murphy to go over in the corner and Doak converted from a tight angle.

Hooker Tom Stewart got Ulster’s fourth try on 65 minutes.

The home side kicked a penalty to touch from the lineout, the pack set up a powerful driving maul and the Ireland hooker was propelled over before Doak added the conversion.

Exeter had full back Ben Hammersley was yellow-carded on 73 minutes for a deliberate knock-on close to his own try line.

The Chiels had the final say with winger Campbell Ridl getting over in the corner with the final play of the game for an unconverted try.

ULSTER: (15-9) M Lowry, Z Ward, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, J Murphy, N Doak; (1-8) S Crean, T Stewart, T O'Toole, I Henderson (c), C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus

Replacements: J McCormick for Stewart 69 mins, E O'Sullivan for Crean 63 mins, T McAllister for O’Toole 68 mins, C Irvine for Henderson 63 mins, B Ward for Augutus 63 mins, C McKee for McCloskey 71 mins, J Flannery for Murphy 68 mins, E McIlroy for Stockdale 41 mins

EXETER CHIEFS: B Hammersley; C Ridl, H Slade, L Ikitau, I Feyi-Waboso; H Skinner, S Varney; S Sio, M Norey, B Tchumbadze; D Jenkins (c), A Zambonin; T Hooper, C Tshiunza, R Vintcent.

Replacements: J Dweba for Norey 53 mins, E Burger for Sio 53 mins, J Iosefa-Scott for Tchumbadze 53 mins , R Tuima for Zambonin 63 mins, F Worley-Brady, T Cairns, W Haydon-Wood for Feyi-Waboso 30 mins, N Lilley.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra).