Second half brace ensures Shannon win

Shannon 26 Clontarf 17

Mick Galwey's Shannon demoted their closest rivals Clontarf to fourth in the Division One standings this afternoon, thanks to a two-try second half at Thomond Park.

The Limerick side watched both Munster back row Stephen Keogh and recent Ireland Sevens cap Brian Tuohy muscle over for second half scores in their 26-17 defeat of the North Dubliners.

Hooker Nigel Conroy's sin-binning for a cynical ruck punch in first-half injury time had threatened to derail the champions, and ex-Colomiers flanker David Tafanel's try on the restart did see Shannon go 17-12 in arrears.

'Tarf had ended a first half dominated by four David Delaney penalties for the home side with a dubious Bernard Jackman try in the left corner, but the crucial brace from Keogh and centre Tuohy saw Galwey's men remain top.

The visitors lost winger Niall O'Brien to a 17th-minute sin-binning but battled back manfully in a bruising encounter.