Staunton grabs the glory for Garryowen

Garryowen 12 Shannon 10

More than 2,000 people turned up to watch on a dry, calm evening but the quality of football for the most part was disappointing and it was not the kind of game that will restore the image of the club game. In the final analysis, it will be best remembered for the closing five minutes during which Shannon seemed to have stolen the points only to be foiled by Staunton’s wonder drop kick.

Garryowen’s international scrum-half Conor Murray kicked them into the lead with a penalty after 10 minutes and the home side had further good news after 22 minutes when a shindig involving both packs resulted in a yellow card for Shannon flanker Eoghan Grace.