Another glory day for Shannon

IF EVER there is a reason to protect and enhance the club structure, the IRFU need look no further than this high quality AIB League final at Thomond Park on Saturday.

It might also be timely to devise a new set of rules to ensure there will never again be such an unsatisfactory end to the club showpiece, Shannon taking their ninth title after extra-time failed to separate two splendidly committed teams.

Unfortunately for Clontarf, the officialdom ruled that the first try of the match was decisive, so David O’Donovan’s 22nd minute strike was enough to bring the title back to Limerick.