OPINION: It’s time for Ulster to push on and join European rugby’s elite

“We are aiming to become one of the top teams in Europe,” he said after Ulster had toughed it out to deservedly earn themselves a rare win in Dublin ahead of facing European powerhouses Toulouse the weekend after next.

“We have been there or thereabouts,” he added.

“It’s pretty tough. We have been working on a number of things this season in the last few weeks, played very well on occasion and squeezed out big results the last few weeks.”

Three first half tries, two from in-form Nick Timoney, put Ulster in position to snatch the result but they had to grind it out defensively on an evening of appalling weather.

The Ulster head coach heaped praise on his players after Ulster began the New Year by backing up their pre-Christmas win over Connacht at Ravenhill, which was also secured by a point, with this hard-earned victory over URC leaders Leinster.

Jacob Stockdale also crossed the Leinster line, but the real star of the show was Billy Burns whose crosskicking created all three touchdowns on an occasion which saw Ulster claim only their third victory this century when taking Leinster on in Dublin.

John Cooney added seven vital points to the total from two conversions and a penalty.

“To me that was a really gutsy performance for us interspersed with three brilliant tries,” McFarland said.

“We took our points when we needed to take them and the rest of it was clench your teeth, get down in the trenches and do the work that you had to do.

“(But) That’s still a victory, isn’t it?

“I’m obviously very happy,” he added.

“To come away with a victory and the manner of it is very pleasing.”

That Ulster toughed this one out was clear and obvious against a Leinster side containing plenty of well-known names, but the area the Ulster head coach was particularly pleased with was the accuracy of Burns’ crosskicking, catching Leinster out on the edges for all three of the visitors’ scores.

“If you play the kind of defence that Leinster play this year, they are susceptible to kicking that is high quality and accurate and Billy (Burns) is one of the best in the game at that and I genuinely mean that.

“So definitely it was a plan, but you’ve got to have variety in that, you’ve got to be able to do it different ways you can’t be obvious with it.

Setting up and planning it is difficult, but those guys understand that, and they had to execute them well, but Billy is really smart and understands where players are going to be and puts the ball there even when it’s not structured.

“Teams that play against South Africa would have done the same thing. Teams that blitz hard off the line are susceptible to attacking kicks, but you have to be able to execute them.

“Ours came off and Billy is one of the best at it,” McFarland added.“Leinster are so strong that playing here is such a good opportunity for any team that comes here. And we thought we’ve a chance here to go and give it a crack and we came away with it.”

McFarland also praised Timoney whose brace of tries mean that he has now scored five in his last three games.

“He’s been so good for us, he’s really consistent, so powerful. On the ball excellent, defensively a really good tackler and a very strong guy.”

Having lost three times to Leinster last season – twice in Dublin – this result will taste all the sweeter for Ulster in addition to it being the province’s third win on the spin following on from the result over Connacht and prior to that a convincing effort at home to Racing 92 in Europe.