...Shannon prop Les Hogan...

A second half try from prop Les Hogan steered Shannon to a 16-3 win over St. Mary's College on Saturday and back to the top of the Division One table. Meanwhile, Munster's Tomas O'Leary touched down in Dolphin's 13-3 defeat of Belfast Harlequins.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, November 18

Belfast Harlequins 3 Dolphin 13, Deramore Park

Scorers: Harlequins: Pen: Keith Pyper
Dolphin: Try: Tomas O'Leary; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pens: Keeshan 2

Shannon 16 St. Mary's College 3, Thomond Park

Scorers: Shannon: Try: Les Hogan; Con: Tadhg Bennett; Pens: Bennett 3
St. Mary's: Pen: Jonathan Sexton

A quick glance at the current Division One table will tell you where the strength lies in the club game's top tier - probably not for the first time this season there is an all-Munster top five.

Champions Shannon occupy the first rung, although their form has been patchy of late. A fortnight ago, Garryowen ended their city rivals' 14-game unbeaten home record in the league and Cork Constitution outfought them in a classic Munster Senior Cup semi-final last Sunday.

Mick Galwey's men did do enough at Thomond Park on Saturday to warrant their 16-3 victory over St. Mary's College, but they were helped in no uncertain terms by Willie Duggan's 61st-minute sin-binning.

Duggan, the son of the former Ireland number eight of the same name, was carded for pulling down a lineout maul as Shannon pressed for an elusive try.

It came soon after as sniping runs from Mossie Lawlor and Andrew Finn created enough space for Hogan to barge over through two defenders. The conversion from young out-half Tadhg Bennett, who earlier kicked three penalties to Jonathan Sexton's one, confirmed Shannon's return to winning ways.

There was the sense though that Mary's had let their hosts off the hook. Former Ireland Under-21 international Sexton missed two kickable penalties, late in the first half when Hogan himself was banished to the sidelines for excessive use of the boot at a ruck. Both sides are back in league action on December 9.

In Saturday's only other Division One fixture, Munster scrum half O'Leary bagged his second try in as many league appearances as Dolphin saw off Harlequins 13-3 at Deramore Park.

Andy Ward's Quins outfit, who are still without a win four games into the season, failed to properly assert themselves in the first half with the backing of a sizeable wind.

Their only score arrived from a penalty from the boot of team captain Keith Pyper, who took over kicking duties from Niall O'Connor. A 30-metre hit from Dolphin's Barry Keeshan saw the sides go in at the break level at 3-3.

Dolphin, soundly beaten by Dungannon two weeks ago, dominated the second half and O'Leary raced in at the corner for a 56th-minute try after a smart ruck move. Keeshan converted and 'Quins' hopes of a comeback were soon dashed when lock Gareth Rourke was sin-binned. Keeshan tagged on another penalty as the Cork men moved up to fifth in the standings.