Young Munster 36 Shannon 3:Young Munster made the perfect start to the new Ulster Bank League when they dished out a thorough defeat to their great local rivals at Thomond Park last night.

A powerful second half display helped them to a bonus point success with Mark Doyle scoring two tries in a powerful performance.

Munster prop Marcus Horan started for Shannon but a worry for him and for Rob Penney is that the prop had to retire midway in the first half.

Up to his departure Shannon held the upper hand in the scrums but they could not manage points on the board.

Brian Haugh put Young Munster in front with a penalty after 13 minutes and outhalf Garreth Quinn-McDonagh dropped a goal after 24 minutes. He had been a Shannon player two years ago and this was his first game since returning from England.

Ben Sergeant had a Shannon penalty but the game swung in favour of Young Munster three minutes before half time.

Following a melee – a player from each side was shown a yellow card – Young Munster were awarded a penalty. They kept the ball alive and following a scrum Doyle sailed over.

It was all Young Munster in the second half. Haugh landed a penalty and a delightful grubber kick by Lucas Kunz sent Don Lespierre over.

Further tries followed by Ger Flaherty from a maul and Doyle again.

SHANNON: R Mullane; C ONeill, B Smith, W OConnor, M Darcy; B Sergeant, R Guerin (D Turner 50); M Horan (D Fitzgerald 26), D Casey, K Griffin; J Sheeran, D Heffernan; J Moloney, J Shine, M Essex.

YOUNG MUNSTER: C OHanlon; D Lespierre, M Doyle, L Kunz, D ONeill; G Quinn-McDonagh, B Haugh; G Flaherty, G Slattery, D Cantillon; S Duggan, D Gallagher; C Liston (G Bourke 63), L Russell (P Fitzgerald 70), N Melbourne.

SCORERS

YOUNG MUNSTER M Doyle 2 tries, D Lespierre, G Flaherty try each, B Haugh 3 pens 2 cons, G Quinn-McDonagh dgl

Shannon B Sergeant pen