Lane Boots ‘Quins To Thomond Park Win
Belfast Harlequins prevailed on a 26-21 scoreline at Thomond Park as they got the better of Shannon in a tight-contested Division 1B encounter.
Talented Harlequins back Eamon Lane took his tally for the Ulster Bank League campaign to 46 points as he lobbed over four penalties and converted tries from lock Caleb Montgomery and winger Peter Dunlop.
Montgomery touched down in the 13th minute in response to an early David O'Donovan penalty, before Munster speedster Luke O'Dea (pictured below) went over out wide for the Limerick club with 21 minutes on the clock.
However, Lane answered back with a couple of well-struck penalties in the 24th and 37th minutes to see Adam Larkin's men take a 13-8 advantage into the break, with Shannon guilty of some poor handling errors.
Lane was on target again in the 44th minute as the visitors began the second period in good fettle. Shannon were quick to respond, with the experienced O'Donovan landing his second successful penalty just two minutes later following a five-metre scrum.
'Quins enjoyed a purple patch when Dunlop broke through for a 57th minute try which Lane converted. They hammered home their advantage with the latter's final penalty goal on the hour mark to make it 26-11.
The Ulster outfit won in the end to lift themselves off the bottom of the Division 1B table, but Shannon produced a smart final quarter to muster a losing bonus point.
A Hugh Kelliher try in the 62nd minute cut the gap to ten points before the home side took advantage of a sin-binning to put hard-working captain John Shine over with seven minutes left.
Shannon now had serious momentum, yet 'Quins dug deep to hold onto their five-point lead despite plenty of disruption late on. A few key injuries and a yellow card saw them finish the match with 14 men and two forwards in the back-line.
Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)