Timely Bonus Point Success For Shannon
Shannon ran out comfortable winners of Saturday’s AIB League Limerick derby at Coonagh to earn their first win in Division 1A and a timely try-scoring bonus point to kickstart the defence of their title.
AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1A: Saturday, October 31
SHANNON 38 UL BOHEMIANS 19, Coonagh
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Richie Mullane, Mossie Lawlor, David Quinlan, Andrew Finn, Jason Cronin; Cons: Tadhg Bennett 2; Pens: Tadhg Bennett 3
UL Bohemians: Tries: Danny Riordan, Mark Doyle; Pens: Darragh Frawley 3
Shannon went in front after nine minutes when out-half Tadhg Bennett made a fine break and timed his pass perfectly to winger Richie Mullane who skipped out of a challenge to touch down.
Second row Darragh Frawley kicked a penalty for UL Bohemians near the midpoint of the first half, but this was negatived three minutes later when Bennett landed the first of his three penalties.
It was Frawley’s turn again after 24 minutes and while he missed an opportunity to put his side in front on the half hour mark, he compensated with a successful kick after 33 minutes.
But on the stroke of half-time, UL Bohs tried to work the ball out from behind heir own line. Their efforts were foiled and when Shannon turned over possession, their pack initially failed to find their way over.
The ball was then moved out wide and once again Bennett gave a well-weighted pass to send captain and full-back Mossie Lawlor in for a try to have Shannon 13-9 ahead at the interval.
Eight minutes into the second half, bustling flanker Eoghan Grace did the spadework for his back row colleague David Quinlan to get Shannon’s third try.
Colm Tucker jnr’s side were hampered after 51 minutes when Andrew Finn was sin-binned, and the visitors took full advantage when Munster squad member Danny Riordan got in for a try from a good pass by Peter Rowley.
Penalties in the 57th and 63 minutes by Bennett made it comfortable for Shannon and Finn celebrate his return to the pitch by scoring the bonus point try after Stephen Kelly intercepted and off-loaded in the tackle to Finn.
Killian O’Neill of Shannon was sin-binned after 80 minutes and Mark Doyle notched a consolation try for the losers before replacement Jason Cronin completed the scoring for Shannon with a late seven-pointer.