Shannon shuttle derailed

A wintry bite in the air, gloomy skies and a cloud hanging over a disorganised Shannon. Perfect ingredients for the derailment of the champions and so Ballymena started their All-Ireland League campaign by taking the steam out of the most successful club side in recent years.

It was a game that fell apart for the visitors to Eaton Park long before the end of first half when the home side had already run in 20 points to no reply.

"If you look at it we didn't have our squad together and it showed out there," said Murray, referring to the fact that four of his pack lined out for Ireland `A' against South Africa `A' last Tuesday. "They had more control. They knew exactly what we were doing. We were all over the place at times. We knew from the beginning that it would be difficult up here. But it is the kick in the backside that we needed."

"I felt our back line was fine but it's the front where you need to get guys to work together. We got the boys back after Tuesday, trained on Wednesday. Not a lot you can do in terms of organisation."

Ballymena coach Andre Bester, who this year took over from Nelie Smith, expected more from the Limerick side but was naturally content to heap praise on his own players.

"Self belief was our main strength today. I think players are beginning to believe in themselves. The South African tour in the summer was great for us because we played against teams with Super 12 players and the guys saw how good that was," he said.

"Shannon were not as strong as I expected them to be. Maybe some of the guys weren't used to playing on a Tuesday night and then playing on a Saturday and I know they've a few injuries. I don't know. But when you are a professional player you are supposed to be able to do that."

Ballymena picked up on the Shannon lethargy just four minutes into the match. An uncontested drop out, which plopped into Mark Blair's arms 20 metres from the line, looked inoffensive enough until the lock started his gallop. Ballymena watched, the spectators watched and Shannon watched. The only moving part on the pitch was a dumbfounded Blair gratefully racing through a clear rift in the Shannon defence.

The howl from the tightly packed stand was one of astonishment at the visitor's largesse as much as anything and it set an unusual tone given Shannon's dominance over the last four seasons.

Fullback Simon Mason, whose kicking to touch was assured, converted for a 7-0 advantage and added two more penalties before the half hour for a 13-0 Ballymena lead.

Shannon lost Kevin Keane to injury after eight minutes and when Mick Galwey reacted to being hit in a ruck shortly after the half hour, referee Alan Lewis had little hesitation in pointing to the sin-bin. Ballymena subsequently scored their second try within five minutes of Galwey's exit when they kicked for touch and drove over from the resulting lineout with prop Norman McKernan touching down.

But the losses in personnel were a mitigating factor rather than a credible theory for Shannon's problems. The team well known for their application as a unit and collaborative strengths simply broke down. Such was Shannon's absurd form that it simply seemed a case of waiting before something would click into place. But it never happened Certainly Ballymena worked efficiently and spurred on by converted winger and captain Dean McCartney never once yielded in defence when the visitors occasionally found their stride. Shannon had their chances but the Ballymena front eight dominated the set pieces, particularly when they were within punishing distance from the line.

Andrew Thompson landed the only visiting points after 52 minutes, before Mason marked the end of any scoring with a penalty three minutes later. The remaining 25 minutes of normal time became an amalgam of a proud Shannon side not wanting to stray into the realms of a humiliating scoreline and Ballymena content to play a tight game and ride out the time. Week one and the championship is already alive.

Scoring Sequence: 4 mins: M Blair try, S Mason conversion 7-0; 18: S Mason penalty 10-0; 29: S Mason penalty 13-0; 39: N McKernon try, S Mason conversion 20-0. 52: A Thompson penalty 20-3; 55: Smason 23-3.

Ballymena: S Mason; S Stewart, J Cunningham, J Wells, D Macartney (capt); D McAleese, A Matchett; N McKernon, A Stewart, R Irwin, M Blair, G Longwell, A Graham, T McWhirter, D Topping. Replacements: A Dougan for McWhirter (52 mins); W McAllister for McKernon (64 mins); R West for Blair (80 mins); V Roux for Wells (81 mins).

Shannon: B Roche; J hayes, P McMahon, A mcGrath, A Thompson; C Burke, S Johnson; N Healy, J Deegan, M Horan, M Galwey, K Keane, C McMahon, E Halvey, A Foley. Replacements: D Kirby for Keane (8 mins); R Ellison for McGrath (48 mins); D Costello for Healy (67 mins); D Quinlan for Halvey (70 mins).

Referee: A Lewis (Leinster).