AIB Rugby: Shannon destroy Co Carlow

Shannon 44, Co Carlow 3

Shannon underlined their status as play-off contenders with a comprehensive victory over Division One newcomers County Carlow. The Shannonsiders ran in six unanswered tries and this after Carlow took the lead through a fifth minute penalty by Billy Murphy.

The former AIL champions were level with a Tom Cregan penalty on 20 minutes and scored the first of four first-half tries, five minutes later, through full-back John Lacey. Shannon’s pack were dominating the set plays and by half-time the bonus point was earned after further touchdowns were added by Colm McMahon, Garrett Noonan and Derek Hegarty.

Trailing 27-3 at the interval there was no way back for Carlow. Further tries were added by Hegarty and Marcus Horan while Cregan added the conversions and a penalty.