GARRYOWEN put an end to Shannon's dream of a "double double" at Thomond Park on Saturday when they defeated the All-Ireland champions in an absorbing Munster Cup semi-final by 28-18.
Shannon won both the AIL and the Munster cup last season and were again hot favourites to repeat that notable achievement. The way they began Saturday's game suggested that Garryowen would not be the team to put a stop to their gallop.
With Michael Galwey, Eddie Halvey and Anthony Foley in rampant form, they swarmed the Garryowen line and, not surprisingly, went ahead after just five minutes. Winger Billy O'Shea made the running for a try by his captain Co nor McDermott, which Andrew Thompson converted.
Shannon should have had a second try after 11 minutes but Halvey was unable to hold a difficult pass with the line at his mercy. Nevertheless, Shannon's supremacy continued and a penalty by Thompson put them 10-0 ahead after 14 minutes.
A rout appeared on the cards but all that changed in the 22nd minute when Thompson threw a wild pass and Garryowen centre Killian Keane, intercepted and ran 70 metres for a try between the posts, which he converted.
"Eddie Halvey's knock-on and the intercept by Keane were crucial moments," agreed Shannon coach Niall O'Donovan. His Garryowen counterpart, Philip Danaher, agreed. "That score was vital."
Playing against the wind, Garryowen had the edge and took the lead in the 39th minute with a delightful try by winger Dominic Crotty.
The second half was almost all Garryowen. A clever flick-on by Keane set up Dan Larking for a third try two minutes after the break. Shannon's Pat Murray put in a great tackle to prevent a second Crotty try and then Thompson struck a fine penalty to narrow the gap to 17-13.
However, the champions were unable to maintain the pressure for long and the game was effectively decided in the 65th minute when live wire Garryowen hooker Pat Humphreys, threw out a long pass to Jack Clarke, who broke a few tackles to score Garryowen's fourth try.
Garryowen made sure with two late drop goals by Barry Everitt. Shannon winger Jason Hayes had time to grab a late but meaningless try.
