Shannon need to hit form against free-scoring UCD

Ulster Bank League play-off

Victory is essential if the team that has captured the title on a record nine occasions since the AIL’s inception in 1991 is to retain its Division 1 status. But a massive test awaits against a stylish UCD side that ran up 556 points and picked up ten try bonuses in finishing second in Division 1B behind Ballynahinch.

If anything, the opposite has been the case for Shannon who looked certainties for relegation when losing each of their first seven league ties. Things picked up the longer the season went on but they still endured many anxious moments before settling for today’s play-off when they avoided the drop because of a superior points score difference over Limerick neighbours UL Bohemians.