No scars and a reset - How Ulster's fortunes changed

"There was great buy-in from the players and certainly from some of the important players, leaders in the group and whatnot, that we were going to see this thing in the right direction."

And so far it has worked.

A superb start to the season put them in a strong position in the URC, but, after a mid-season wobble, their play-off hopes are precarious due to how tight the top 10 teams are.

"Obviously, it hasn't always been perfect," Timoney added.

"But it would be hard to deny that there hasn't been progress, but as soon as you feel like you've made it or you've cracked it, then that's when life trips you up.

"So we just need to keep pushing, keep working hard. Every single week, every single day we come in, we need to know that we're trying to get better again for the next week."

'No scars for young players'

After the game, Murphy had hinted at frustration about comparisons to other Ulster teams who had come up short in previous semi-finals.

He went as far to say that "this team hasn't been in a semi-final before".

And, in truth, he was right.

Of the starting team that were pipped by the Stormers in a dramatic United Rugby Championship semi-finals in 2022, only five were in action on Saturday.

Along with Timoney, Iain Henderson, Tom O'Toole, Stuart McCloskey and Ethan McIlroy were the sole survivors from the starting team that day.

Even on the bench that day in Cape Town, only Nathan Doak and Eric O'Sullivan featured against Exeter.

"It's such a different team since then," Timoney said.

"There's been a lot of change now to the group, so it's about this current journey.

"Sometimes it's good for individuals, and for me and the likes, to have those lessons built up over a number of years.

"But the beauty sometimes of newer lads who don't have those experiences, they don't have those scars and it doesn't even factor into their minds."

While the youthful make-up of the squad can lead to an approach of no fear, Timoney also says having success at a young age can only be a good thing in the long term.

"There's sometimes a beauty in freshness or being new to it all and you know you get some of these lads who come in and if we're successful this year they probably think that's just the way it goes," Timoney added.

"You've seen some of them be incredible today [against Exeter on Saturday] and over the last few weeks.

"If they don't know any better than being successful, then that's a good thing for us."

With one match standing between Ulster a first trophy since 2006, Timoney admits it would be "unbelievable" to win silverware with the province.

"Twenty years is a long time. It feels overdue, certainly as a fan, as a player who's been around for a long time and not won any trophies with Ulster.

"I know how hard it is and how rare these occasions are, so we need to capitalise, but it's a great opportunity."