Shannon clear way to their third title

SELF-BELIEF and confidence are invaluable assets in the realm of competition. They have been outstanding characteristics in Shannon's performances in the Insurance Corporation All-Ireland League over the last three seasons and fundamental to the unprecedented level of success attained by the club.

At Stradbrook last Saturday Shannon again demonstrated their resilience and their capacity to meet a challenge of depth. Blackrock College presented that, but Shannon came through the examination to score the crucial match-winning points in the closing stages and claim a worthy and invaluable victory.

Shannon, the defending champions, went into the match two points clear of Blackrock College and Lansdowne. This, win allied to Garryowen's victory over Lansdowne, means that Shannon now enjoy a four-point margin over both Blackrock and Lansdowne and three points over their closest pursuers, St Mary's College.

Not surprisingly, then, this win was greeted with enthusiastic acclamation by Shannon's supporters and players. As their admirable coach, Niall O'Donovan put it: "It was a huge win for us." It was all of that and, with four matches to play, Shannon are now odds-on to take the title for a record third time in a row.

But it was by no means a victory attained without anxiety, a point O'Donovan readily conceded. Shannon had played with the wind in the first half. They had rucked and driven with some effect but they failed to break down the Blackrock defence. Two penalty goals from Andrew Thompson had given them a six-point lead after 28 minutes. But Shannon had not made the most of their opportunities, and there had been an uncharacteristic miss from in front of the posts by Thompson.

Then, with 36 minutes gone, Blackrock struck for a try after a scrum. The ball ran loose, Duncan Kennedy gathered, and he put Emmett Farrell in by the posts. David Lynagh converted and Blackrock led 7-6. With the promise of the wind in their favour in the second period, they had reason to feel that they would take the champions.

Blackrock did play very well even if Shannon had the advantage territorially. They contained Shannon's driving and rucking for the greater part and their captain, Mike Brewer got a good response from his pack. When Blackrock stretched their half-time lead of a point to six with a try in the fifth minute of the second half, it was crisis time for the champions. That score came alter Kennedy blocked down a relieving kick by Jim Galvin. Nicky Assaf, who had a fine match at scrum-half for Blackrock, got to the ball with inches to spare as it appeared to be going into touch in goal.

But the Shannon response was typical and came within two minutes. They forced their way deep into Blackrock territory and after Anthony Foley, who had an outstanding game, made the initial thrust, Mick Galwey was the man who got over the line for the try. Thompson converted and Shannon led by 13 points to 12.

When Lynagh kicked a very good penalty in the 56th minute, the lead had changed yet again, with Blackrock back in front at 15-13. The forward battle was in tense and on a few occasions, temper prevailed over wisdom.

With the contest in its final 10 minutes, Blackrock still hung on to that precious two-point advantage. Farrell was wide with a dropped goal attempt for Blackrock and then a superb break by centre Alan McGrath carried him half the length of the field before Aidan Guinan made the saving tackle just short of the Blackrock line. But Shannon, who by now had lost Eddie Halvey, established an attacking position and from a scrum, Galvin dropped a fine goal to leave Shannon ahead by a point.

The Shannon scrum was the stronger and 38-year-old veteran tight head Noel Healy gave Ireland loose head Paul Flavin a real examination.

There was major scare for Shannon when after a quick throw in on halfway Assaf streaked down the touchline to `score' but referee Alan Watson correctly disallowed the `try' as Assaf was inside the five-metre zone when he gathered the throw. So he awarded a scrum - and it was to prove important. Two tapped free kicks brought Shannon inside the Blackrock 25, and Blackrock could not stop the advance. The veteran Kieran Maher, Halvey's replacement, yet again proved to be the `super sub' as he got over the Blackrock line in injury time for the try that assured Shannon of victory.