Shannon have a second gear

The return of three Connacht players, including Eric Elwood, did little to help Galwegians' cause yesterday when they were comprehensively beaten by Shannon at Crowley Park. Despite a bright start from the home side, who were 9-0 up after 18 minutes, they failed to make use of the first-half wind advantage or make initial territorial dominance count.

The first hint of Shannon's strength came in a dominant final 15 minutes when outhalf Niall McNamara was unable to ground the ball after a superb break from tigerish flanker Colm McMahon. But, within minutes, left wing Tom Cregan had converted a 26th-minute penalty, and Shannon were off and running.

Shannon's stern defence kept Galwegians out on several occasions despite the best efforts of Connacht's Peter Bracken and Junior Charlie up front. But the home side did not help their own cause with some high risk passes and poor half back supply.

When Elwood failed to find touch with a relieving kick, Shannon's John Lacey carved through the space for Melvyn McNamara to supply a winning pass for Maurice Lawlor to touch down, bringing the visitors within a point at the break.

Thereafter, it was all Shannon and they gave Galwegians a lesson with their superior mauling. It was the home side's increasing error-count that proved crucial as a miss-pass between Duignan and Liddy gave the opening for Cregan who hacked ahead with lock Brian Buckley winning the chase to the ball.

Cregan, who had a superb day with the boot, added the conversion and three more penalties, including one from the halfway line. When Marcus Horan peeled away from a moving maul to race away for the third try, it was all over for Galwegians. Shannon went in search of their fourth try and bonus point, but not before Galwegians right wing Barry Liddy manufactured a try from a poor back-line move.

But when Shannon's Derek Hegarty notched number four on 80 minutes, Shannon had reason to celebrate their visit to a windswept and wet Crowley Park.

GALWEGIANS: R Lee,B Liddy, P Duignan, M Murphy, G Brady, E Elwood, J Heaslip, A Kershaw, G Flannery, P Bracken, G Heaslip, P Casserly, J Muldoon, J Charlie, B Gavin. Replacements: K Tierney for Flannery (4 mins), I Muldoon for Casserly (50).

SHANNON: J lacey, M McNamara, M Lawlor, A Thompson, T Cregan, N McNamara, DHegarty, M Horan, C Tucker, F Roce, N Buckley, T Hayes, R Collins, C McMahon, D Quinlan (capt). Replacements: G McNamara for Roche (62).

Referee: D Tyndall (Leinster).