Shannon survive winter break

ONE issue hung over this game like the rolling fog which enveloped Thomond Park shortly before kick-off. On the face of it, it looked as if the IRFU's decision to suspend relegation from Division One had effectively moved the goalposts in midgame. But, appropriately enough in the prevailing conditions, it was hard to tell

When it was put to him that the holders had just negotiated the first of an easy four game run-in against the bottom quartet, the Shannon coach Niall O'Donovan retorted: "Ask Frank Hogan."

This relates to the Garryowen man's entirely valid concerns that the IRFU's hugely surprising decision to accommodate the First Division's expansion to 14 teams by doing away with relegation may leave the bottom teams with little motivation for their remaining games. At the very least, the Union might have opted for a four up-one down system at the season's end to retain some sense of balance to the whole First Division equation.

Had Hogan witnessed the first eight minutes here he would have had a compelling case. Anthony Foley waltzed over the Ballymena line untouched for a soft try off a rolling maul initiated by a back-row move from a scrum and Shannon were 10-0 up in no time.

The majority of a poorish 1,500 attendance sat back and anticipated a bit of a romp against a team with nothing tangible to play for. Unfortunately for them, so did Shannon.

What's more, after doubting Ballymena's commitment the flip side of that theory was quickly demonstrated for the remainder of the half, namely that the removed threat of relegation has also rid the Ulstermen of any fear.

They began playing with far more freedom than Shannon, though they might well have had more expansive intentions in any case. They had played their hand beforehand with the selection of James Topping at fullback and Derek McAleese's switch to centre in accommodating Ricky McIlmoyle at outhalf.

Lording their own ball far more diligently than an out-of-sync Shannon lineout, sure enough Ballymena began spreading the ball wide quickly and often, with the omnipresent tearaway flanker Jonathan McCartney effectively an auxiliary back and Topping as the attacking spearhead.

Though not exactly in the duck to water class, the converted Irish under-21 winger came into the line at every available opportunity and often to good effect never more so than when McCartney supported right winger James Harley for Topping to beat two men on the outside with a dummy inside pass that was particularly good given there wasn't a black shirted colleague for miles.

But Shannon tightened up after the break, established some control through their tight five and Brian Rigney at the front of the line, and utilised their rolling maul. One of those territorial graphs would have induced a sea of black and blue hoops. For all that, they just about kept Ballymena at arms length, McAleese's late try briefly bringing the visitors to within a score of a major upset.

"We made hard work of it" conceded O'Donovan, who legitimately pointed to the enforced winter hibernation. "This was our first game since October. Now that they've played together they might improve again next week. They were putting a few things together in the second-half, getting the line-out right and taking on ball which in the first-half was non-existent."

Relegation or not, he maintains Old Wesley will put up the good fight next week in Donnybrook. "We never get things easy against Wesley. They're a big pack and they play something similar to ourselves."

In which case Ballymena coach Dave Smith wouldn't be a fan of Wesley's either, for he was patently less than enamoured of Shannon's failure to "move the ball a bit more."

"We tried to keep the ball alive with pace, by passing it onto space with people coming on to the ball at pace. The only way you'll learn is by practising in a competitive atmosphere, and there's no more competitive atmosphere than Thomond Park."

He maintained that Ballymena would have played this way regardless, and that "pride, a desire to perform well and not be whipping boys" ensures that Ballymena and their ilk will compete vigorously until the end.

The performance supported the coach's words, it is true. indeed, no relegation in itself for a season might not be a bad thing, but preferably if announced beforehand. if the goalposts are to be shifted then surely it ought to happen before the kick-off? Metaphorically, the mist won't have lifted until the campaign is over.