’Well stun Shannon to end the famine

Sunday’s Well 20 Shannon 12.

There was a huge upset in the Cyril Fitzgerald Plate Final at Woodleigh Park on Saturday night as Sunday’s Well comprehensively defeated Shannon, a side operating two divisions above them in the Ulster Bank League.

The records show it was 1994 when Sunday’s Well last won a Munster trophy and, before a very enthusiastic following, gave a superb performance, especially in the pack, to end a 20-year famine.

Shannon were a bewildered side at half-time as they trailed 20-0. But, in typical Limerick tradition, they battled back in the second-half and only for a conversion attempt that come back off the upright, there might have been a different result.

Shane O’Riordan kicked a drop goal after three minutes to give the ’Well an early lead. Seven minutes later a drive by the ’Well pack saw John Moynihan touch down, O’Riordan subsequently converting.

Midway through the half, following a line out on the halfway line, the ball went out the back line and Cathal Quinn’s speed saw him gallop over for the ’Well’s second try, O’Riordan again converting.

Shannon came out a changed side in the second-half and deciding to run everything they were rewarded with a try from Dave Evans after six minutes.

With the ’Well down to 14 for the last 10 minutes, after Cyprian Jouve was shown a yellow card, Shannon scored a second try when Jason Cronin got in at the corner. But McKenna’s conversion came back off the upright. Thereafter, the winners regained control to see out the result.

SUNDAY’S WELL: C Quinn; C Keegan, C Jouve, D Loftus, A O’Neill; S O’Riordan, P Condon; M Moynihan, J Moynihan, F Moynihan; D Kinston, E Murphy; A O’Reilly, K Stokes, J Mulcahy.

Replacements: B Dineen, C O’Regan, E Ackland, A Ansboro, a Singleton, I O’Regan, R Browner.

SHANNON: D O’Donovan; T Tobin, S Mullally, R Deegan, C Cunnane; R McKenna, G Ryan; D O’Connell, L O’Connell, J O’Connell; P Kearins, T Cusack; H Kelleher, C Glynn, A Butler.

Replacements: A O’Brien, F Bradshaw-Ryan, W O’Connor, T Bennett, P Curtis, D Evans.

Referee: C Harrington (MAR).