ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: Garryowen 25 Shannon 13:MUNSTER AND Ireland, were given a big boost last night when Marcus Horan returned to action after a lengthy spell of injury.
Horan played for 51 minutes in the battle of arch Limerick rivals Garryowen and Shannon, in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League Division One A tie at Dooradoyle, but his side went under to a revitalised Garryowen who put their earlier form behind them to move up from the bottom of the league table to sixth.
Declan Cusack had Garryowen in front with penalties after five and 17 minutes. Shannon suffered a setback when top points kicker Tadhg Bennett had to retire injured after only 10 minutes and they suffered another blow when Kevin Griffin was sin binned after 28 minutes. Bennett’s replacement Gareth Quinn-McDonagh landed a penalty after 39 minutes and just on half-time Stephen Kelly had a try to have the visitors 8-6 in front at the break.
Garryowen dominated the second half with tries by Alan Gaughan which Cusack converted and Paul Neville stormed over for another which was followed by a Mick Sherry try on 62 minutes which Cusack again converted.
Shannon never relented and a try two minutes from the end by Les Hogan was fitting reward for the prop.
GARRYOWEN: L Bourke; A Gaughan, C Hircock, C Doyle, R OMahoney; D Cusack, C Murray; JP Cooney (B McNamara (67 mins), M Sherry, D Lavery; F McKenna, A McCloskey; P Neville, A Kavanagh, D Sherry.
SHANNON: D O'Donovan; L ODea, M Lawler, M ODriscoll, S Kelly; T Bennett (G Quinn-McDonagh (10 mins), P Rowley; M Horan, (L Hogan 51 mins ), D Casey, K Griffin; D Heffernan, F Walsh; C McMahon, P Butler, D Quinlan.
Referee: A Lewis, IRFU
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