Forwards give Shannon winning formula

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE Shannon 16 Garryowen 12: WHEN THE going gets tough, few sides have the ability to respond like Shannon.

Geoff Moylan’s side took a giant step towards securing a magnificent ninth All-Ireland League Division One title after securing a gritty 16-12 semi-final victory over great rivals Garryowen at a wet and blustery Coonagh on Saturday.

Shannon’s forwards were simply superb in the second half, strangling the life out of their opponents in the slippery, energy-sapping conditions.

While tighthead prop Kevin Griffin was named man of the match, any one of four or five members of the Shannon pack would have been worthy recipients of the accolade.

Hooker Mike Essex, who holds a Munster development contract, produced a powerhouse display in the frontrow, while a more established Munster star, Donncha Ryan, and the exciting Eoghan Grace, also excelled.

While the pack created the platform for Shannon’s sixth semi-final win in seven appearances, outhalf Tadhg Bennett converted that precious possession into points. Bennett landed three second-half penalty goals to turn a five-point deficit at the break, 7-12, into a four-point winning margin.

Garryowen, who registered a 25-point victory when the Limerick rivals met at the same stage of last season’s competition, had three penalty goals and a drop goal from the boot of Conor Kilroy in the opening half.

However, the crucial score of that half arrived just four minutes into the game when Shannon winger Stephen Kelly blazed over for the game’s only try. In a training-ground move, following a scrum, the ball was quickly fed out to Kelly who scampered through a sizeable hole in the Garryowen defence to score.

Psychologically, it was a massive score as Shannon were playing into a strong breeze and driving rain for much of the half.

Despite being pinned back into their own half for much of the second period, Garryowen, led by captain Paul Neville, maintained a one-point lead, 13-12, as the game ticked into the closing 10 minutes.

However, once Bennett slotted two further penalty goals in the 71st and 76th minutes, Garryowen were forced to chase the game.

Shannon team captain David Quinlan is looking forward to Shannon’s first appearance in an AIL final for three seasons.

“It is good to be back in the final. Clontarf beat us already this season at Thomond Park,” Quinlan pointed out.

“It is going to be a tough game. They are a very good side. Hopefully we might have a bit of luck on the day.

SHANNON: D O'Donovan; R Mullane, F McLoughlin, J Clogan, S Kelly; T Bennett, F McNamara; K O'Neill, M Essex, K Griffin; P O'Brien, F Walsh; D Ryan, E Grace, D Quinlan (Capt). Replacements: Les Hogan for K O'Neill (54 mins).

GARRYOWEN: C Kilroy; L Bourke, K Lewis, C Doyle, R O'Mahony; W Staunton, G Hurley; R Brosnan, M Sherry, D Lavery; E Mackey, F McKenna; P Neville (Capt), C Hartigan, D Sherry. Replacements: J O'Sullivan for C Hartigan (48 mins), N Melbourne for D Sherry (63 mins), A Burke for W Staunton (70 mins), D McCarthy for L Bourke, C Murray for G Hurley (both 77 mins).

Referee: G Clancy(IRFU).