Shannon 17 Garryowen 29:SHANNON'S WOES continued at Thomond Park last night in the first of their back-to-back fixtures against their arch city rivals.
Declan Cusack was man of the match for the winners and he scored a try, kicked three conversions and a penalty as Shannon were punished for slack second-half defence.
Cusack landed his penalty after three minutes and Shannon suffered another blow after 14 minutes when Stephen Keogh was sin-binned after a touch judge spoke to New Zealand referee Chris Pollock who will be in charge of the Ireland-Scotland game next week.
Garryowen capitalised and a great break by Ronan O’Mahony sent Corey Hircock in for a try which Cusack converted.
Just on half-time Dave Quinlan set up Rob Guerin for a try which Tadg Bennett converted and he dropped a goal two minutes into the second half to tie it up at 10-10.
Tries by Conor Hartigan, Cusack and replacement James McEnery wrapped it up for Garryowen in a 10-minute spell.
SHANNON: M Lawler; S McNamara, R Mullane, J Clogan, C Cunnane; T Bennett, R Guerin; L Hogan, J Deegan, K Griffin; D Heffernan, F Walsh; S Keogh, J Murphy, D Quinlan. Replacements: A O’Brien for Deegan, K hanley for Heffernan.
GARRYOWEN: L Bourke; R OMahony, C Hircock, D Cusack, I Hurley; F Lawler, N Cronin; JP Cooney, D Rowley, P OShea; F McKenna, D Sherry; S Buckley, C Hartigan, P Neville. Replacements: J McEnery for Buckley
Referee: C Pollock (New Zealand).
