Shannon stutter to win over Carlow

County Carlow 7 Shannon 17

Champions Shannon stuttered to a 17-7 defeat of bottom side County Carlow at Oak Park, with Munster flanker Jerry Flannery's 79th-minute try proving the difference.

Ray Ward's strugglers led 7-6 at the break thanks to a Kent Ashmore try on 15 minutes, from a neat five-metre lineout drive.

Richie Murphy converted, but the multi-talented kicker was held at bay in the second half as the Limerick men came into their own.

Veteran Andrew Thompson, deputising for late withdrawal David Delaney as Shannon's kicker, had bagged two first half penalties and the tie remained tantilisingly poised at 7-6 until the 72nd-minute.

Thompson's third penalty success pushed Shannon in front for the first time and Flannery's pop over from another close-in lineout drive was cruelly added to by Thompson's 84th-minute penalty - robbing Carlow of a deserved bonus point.

Scorers: Carlow: Try: Kent Ashmore; Con: Richie Murphy

Shannon: Try: Jerry Flannery; Pens: Andrew Thompson 3