Shannon display champion pedigree

THE situation at the top of the First Division table in the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League took on a new aspect last Saturday, when Lansdowne surrendered their 100 per cent record and the leadership of the division at the hands of defending champions Shannon at Thomond Park.

Three weeks earlier Shannon faltered against St Mary's College but any suggestions that the champions might be losing their hunger or that their power was diminishing can be cast aside after this victory.

It was hard earned but deserved and Lansdowne coach Donal Spring was fulsome in his acknowledgment of that and still believes "that Shannon are the champions, they are the team to beat. They deserved to win. They took the lead just after half time with a simple try and a simple penalty. You cannot get away with that against a team of their quality."

That is a succinct assessment and the timing of the try, was crucial, a point readily accepted by Shannon coach Niall O'Donovan. "That try came at a critical time for us after we had been behind 14-6 at the interval. They had played well in the first half and deserved their lead. But while I still think we have some way to go before playing as we can, we played very much better in the second half."

On the value of the win, O'Donovan was emphatic: "It was a very big win for us. We beat the league leaders, it was the quick response we needed after losing in the last match and now our challenge is back on track." A significant statement of intent for all with aspirations of dethroning the champions.

"This a very good Lansdowne side, they are well drilled. They came down here to win and set about doing it from the outset. When they went into an 11-3 lead midway through the first half, I must admit I was worried, especially as I felt we were sluggish. If we had lost that match we would have been four points behind and that is not an easy leeway to make up. Our title challenge is now back on track."

It was a match worthy of a contest between the champions and league leaders, played in very good conditions and watched by a large and enthusiastic crowd which lent atmosphere to the occasion. Lansdowne certainly gave more than they got in the initial stages. Matching the Shannon pack, they also held their own in the mauls, tackled effectively and attacked through their backs.

Pat Murray had given Shannon the lead with an early dropped goal and then Eric Elwood equalised with a penalty in the 11th minute. Seven minutes later, Lansdowne scored a fine try. The industrious Stephen Rooney, part of a good back row, made the initial thrust. The movement was carried on by Andrew Doyle and the ball was transferred outside via Alan Reddan to right wing Simon Cooney, who scored in the right corner. Elwood missed the conversion but when he kicked a penalty - and penalty awards were liberal by South African referee Andre Watson - in the 22nd minute, Lansdowne led 11-3 and Shannon knew they had a match on their hands.

Elwood had started brightly enough and his tackling was, as always, good. But as Shannon began to get on top, Elwood's play deteriorated somewhat in the second half even though his experience and perception were still at times in evidence. Shannon got a try in the 32nd minute when Mick Galwey got over the line after the initial damage had been done by a break from Alan McGrath.

At that point the level of Shannon's game and intensity increased. Alan Quinlan had been at the heart of much of what the Shannon pack did in the loose, while Galwey and Paul O'Connor were the best ball winners for their teams in the lineout. Elwood's third penalty gave Lansdowne a little more breathing space by the interval and a six point advantage.

That lead had been turned into a four point deficit within five minutes of the resumption when the match took a decisive turn in the champions' favour.

Thompson got a try in the first minute after McGrath had blocked down Kurt McQuilkin's attempted left footed clearance and gathered the ball. Elwood put in the tackle on McGrath, but Andrew Thompson was on hand to score with Quinlan at his shoulder. Thompson converted and then kicked a penalty goal and the initiative had passed to Shannon.

Shannon's mauling and rucking took on a new authority and when Thompson kicked a penalty in the 52nd minute, his side led by seven points. Lansdowne had never beaten Shannon in the league, and after going seven points down, the chances of attaining the initial victory was always going to be difficult. Indeed, it proved beyond Lansdowne's capacity.

Elwood kicked his fourth penalty in the 57th minute, but that was Lansdowne's only second half score. Then, four minutes from the end, all semblance of doubt about the result was removed when Halvey, who had a very good second half, got Shannon's third try after Foley made a drive for the line. And while Thompson missed the conversion, it did not make any difference, Shannon led by nine points, the issue had been settled.