ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS/Shannon 6 Garryowen 31:THE MOST enthusiastic of Garryowen supporters could not have contemplated such a landslide win against their great local rivals, Shannon, who went into the game backed by the knowledge that they never lost an AIB All-Ireland League semi-final when at home.
This time "home" was at windswept Coonagh and Garryowen romped to such a big win even their supporters found it hard to digest. Shannon, simply, were outgunned by a Garryowen side who gave due notice that they plan to defend their title to the very end.
Four well-taken tries and an 11-point kicking haul by fullback Conor Kilroy yielded a handsome win and earned them bragging rights in the city for some time.
Shannon conceded the first-half wind advantage and when they trailed by 11 points at the interval they were still very much in contention despite conceding a 35th-minute try which was a reward for a patient build-up by Garryowen's forwards. When the ball was fed back Willie Staunton lofted a high crossfield kick. The outstanding Mark Melbourne gathered, made ground, and when Staunton was fed quick ball he sent replacement David Sherry barging over.
Kilroy had earlier landed three penalties which were offset by a superbly-taken drop goal by Mossie Lawler. Five minutes into the second half David O'Donovan landed a huge long-range penalty to signal Shannon's intent.
O'Donovan then saw a penalty from 10 metres inside his own half come back off an upright. If successful, it would have meant only a five points difference. But Melbourne gathered and Garryowen went downfield to score their second try when Staunton set up Kieran Lewis.
O'Donovan was sin-binned after 25 minutes but Garryowen did not concede another penalty but instead polished off their opponents with two more tries. Conan Doyle took a pop-up pass from Staunton after 72 minutes and rising star Keith Earls raced in for the fourth two minutes from the end of a one-sided derby.
Melbourne had a marvellous game and was ably assisted by Peter Malone who resumed as captain when Paul Neville had to retire injured after 27 minutes.
Garryowen coach Dara O'Sullivan said afterwards: "We retained possession well in the second half. We thought they would opt to pin us in the corners and they moved the ball around more than we expected. But we are happy with the win".
Mick Galwey, Shannon's head coach, said: "Garryowen deserved their win. We did not do ourselves justice. We kicked away too much possession in the first half."
Scores: Garryowen: (D Sherry, K Lewis, C Doyle, K Earls, tries, C Kilroy, 3 pens, con) Shannon: (M Lawler dg, D O'Donovan, pen).
SHANNON: A Finn (A Thompson 76); D O'Donovan, M Kinsella, J Clogan (J Manuel, 57), S Kelly; M Lawler, F O'Loughlin; K O'Neill (L Hogan, 58), S Cronin, K Griffin; P O'Brien (E Grace, 70), F Walsh; P O'Connor (L Mullane, 60), C McMahon, D Quinlan.
GARRYOWEN: C Kilroy (L Burke, 77); Cillian O'Boyle, K Lewis (F Quaglia, 78), C Doyle, K Earls; W Staunton (A Kingsley, 77), G Hurley; R Brosnan (D Lavery, 76), D Varley, E McGovern; M Melbourne, F McKenna; P Neville (D Sherry, 29), A Kavanagh, P Malone. Referee: S McDowell, IRFU
