Shannon backbone the key to victory

Shannon won't care that it was a scrappy, error-ridden final. Their 13th success in the competition was a vindication of the composite side which they mustered to oppose Young Munster.

Denied the presence of their internationals, and with Mick Galwey initially confined to the bench, the Shannon management trusted in several young players who acquitted themselves admirably. Prop Gary McNamara and flanker Redmond Collins proved the pick of the newcomers, both amalgamating a good work ethic and promising footballing skills.

However, it was the experienced backbone that masterminded this victory. Marcus Horan may be a young man but he boasts high mileage on these pressure-laden occasions. After a quiet start he enjoyed a pivotal role, tackling off the front foot and displaying an appetite to earn the hard yards.

The Quinlans, Alan and David, vied for man-of-the-match, an accolade which the former picked up. David's work rate, tackling and ball-carrying never dipped, but it was the quality of cousin Alan's that made the difference.

Once Alan got over his inclination to try to referee the match, he focused on the task in hand to greater effect. He defended with great conviction and his support play breathed new life into moves that threatened to peter out.

John Langford and Brian Buckley took time off from dominating the lineout to contribute handsomely around the pitch. Shannon's dominance up front underwrote this victory.

It was only when threatened with an ignominious defeat - Young Munster's play had been several notches below competent - that Munsters played with the bedevilment expected at Tom Clifford Park. Prior to that, they had been guilty of wasting what little possession they could garner, kicking aimlessly and crabbing sideways behind the scrum, devoid of any penetration.

The final 15 minutes will haunt Munsters when they reflect on this defeat, their ninth in the last 11 Munster Senior Cup finals. The pack began to rumble forward with greater purpose and penetration, with player/coach Matt te Pou, number eight Muto Ngarimu and replacement second row Paul O'Connell making significant yardage.

When Munster full back Tommy Cregan kicked a fourth penalty on 75 minutes they trailed by 17-12, and what would have seemed an unlikely victory for most of the match was suddenly attainable. Unfortunately, in their desperation to secure another score, they abandoned the composure and precision that had hauled them back into the game, turning over possession through sloppy handling and questionable decision-making.

Those shortcomings precipitated the definitive moment of the match. Trying to run the ball from virtually their line, a pass was misplaced and Shannon replacement Mossie Lawlor reacted quickest to dive over the line. Outhalf and captain Andrew Thompson's conversion prompted the final whistle.

Shannon dominated the opening skirmishes and deservedly took the lead on five minutes, producing the best rugby of the match. David Quinlan set up a ruck 35 metres from the Young Munster line, and when the ball was moved to the short side, centre Niall McNamara was put through a gap, timing his scoring pass to Jason Hayes perfectly.

Despite their domination, Shannon struggled to translate it into points. Thompson kicked a little too often and a fledgling partnership with young scrumhalf Cormac O'Loughlin encountered teething difficulties.

The beginning of the second half mirrored the first, Shannon superior in the set pieces, enjoying the majority of possession, yet unable to conjure a definitive break on the scoreboard.

Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Hayes try, 5-0; 9: Cregan pen, 5-3; 27: Thompson pen, 8-3; 32: Thompson pen, 11-3; 36: Cregan pen, 11-6; 39: Thompson pen, 14-6. 64: Cregan pen, 14-9; 67: Thompson pen, 17-9; 75: Cregan pen, 17-12; 82: Lawlor try, Thompson con, 24-12.

Shannon: J Lacey; J O'Neill, N McNamara, J Davis, J Hayes; A Thompson (capt), C O'Loughlin; M Horan, F Roche, G McNamara, B Buckley, J Langford, R Collins, D quinlan, A Quinlan. Replacements: M Lawlor for Davis (61 mins); M Galwey for Collins (61 mins).

Young Munster: T Cregan; C Casey, A Rogers, M Lynch (capt), M Connolly; E Buckley, M Prendergast; E Hann, T Lane, M Fitzgerald, D Edwards, M te Pou, D McDonagh, M Ngarimu, J Rose. Replacements: B Cantrell for Lane (19 mins); P O'Connell for Edwards (36 mins); M Mullins for Connolly (half time). Sin bin: P O'Connell (60-70 mins).

Referee: O Trevor (IRFU).