Shannon 10 Garryowen 23: Garryowen went back to the top of the Division One table when they surprised their local rivals, and reigning champions, Shannon before a crowd of 2,000 at Thomond Park yesterday.
It was their first victory over Shannon at the venue for five seasons and it was richly deserved thanks mainly to a far livelier pack.
The Mick Galwey coached Shannon, champions last season, were a huge disappointment.
Former league player and current Munster squad member, Paul Devlin, was the winners' hero with Paul Neville outstanding in the pack together with Peter Malone.
Three minutes from the end of a thrilling contest, Garryowen were clinging desperately to a 16-10 lead as Shannon launched a series of assaults in a bid for victory to preserve their unbeaten run.
Garryowen defended superbly and forced play from their own line to half-way. Shannon were in possession but Fiach O'Loughlin was slow in getting the ball away from a ruck.
Garryowen won a turnover and Alan Purcell created a move which saw Devlin take off down the right touchline. He shook off a few tackles and scorched in under the posts. Gerry Hurley added the conversion as he had done for Garryowen's opening try scored by Pat Humphries.
That try came after 12 minutes when Neville won a lineout and his forwards drove over.
Hurley converted to add to his eighth-minute penalty to tie the scores after Tom Cregan opened the scoring for Shannon with a penalty after five minutes.
Shannon were level at 10-10 after 32 minutes. Flanker John O'Connor made the initial break which was taken on by Colm McMahon who sent skipper Tom Hayes over and Tom Cregan converted.
That was as good as it got for Shannon who had former international Eddie Halvey sin-binned after 53 minutes.
Just on half-time Hurley landed a Garryowen penalty from near the halfway line and, while he missed from in front of the posts two minutes into the second half, he found the range on this occasion.
But Garryowen could not breathe easily until Devlin's late try.
GARRYOWEN: S Ryan; D O'Riordan, R Niland, P Devlin, D Heaton; A Purcell, G Hurley; R O'Callaghan, P Humphries, R Laffan, M Melbourne, D Sheehan; P Neville, E Nihill, P Malone. Replacement: B O'Brien for Ryan (47 mins).
SHANNON: J Lacey; T Cregan, B Tuohy, E Cahill, M Tuohy; A Thompson, F O'Loughlin; L Hogan, J Blaney, G. McNamara; T Hayes, E Halvey; C McMahon, JE O'Connor, D Quinlan.
Referee: A Lewis (IRFU)
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