In Pics: Clontarf 32 Shannon 18
Click here for photos from Clontarf’s AIB League Division One win against champions Shannon at Castle Avenue on Saturday.
Pictured above: Magnus Coetzer (left), Breffni O’Donnell (centre) and Marc Hewitt (right) congratulate each other on a job well done at Castle Avenue. Clontarf served Shannon’s first AIB League defeat since 2004 thanks to tries from Ben Gissing, Niall O’Brien, Peter O’Brien, Darragh O’Shea and centre O’Donnell.
Clontarf’s Ireland Under-21 prop Robert Sweeney is tackled by Shannon duo TJ Hickey (left) and Dave Delaney (right).
Clontarf’s Philip Purdue is tackled by Shannon fly half Dave Delaney.
Shannon full-back David O’Donovan loses grip on the ball under pressure from Clontarf winger Niall O’Brien.
Shannon’s Dave Delaney has no time to release his outside backs with Clontarf duo Breffni O’Donnell and Magnus Coetzer lurking at Castle Avenue.
Shannon’s captain for the season, Colm McMahon (number 19), made a welcome return to league action on Saturday. McMahon has been missing from the champions’ line-up since breaking a bone in his foot in October. Here, he combines with Frankie McNamara to try and stop Clontarf’s rampaging prop Robert Sweeney.
Robert Sweeney tries to make the hard yards against Shannon’s Dave Delaney.
**All photos by Dan Sheridan of Inpho Photography**