Shannon romp eight tries past Buccs

Buccaneers 3 Shannon 56

Champions Shannon all but guaranteed themselves a home semi-final as they ran in eight tries against a hapless Buccaneers on their first ever league visit to Moher Road.

Although Justin Meagher gained parity for the Pirates with an 18th-minute penalty, it was all Shannon from then on as Eoin Cahill, Tony Buckley, Brian Tuohy (2), David O'Donovan, David Quinlan, substitute Tom Cregan and veteran Andrew Thompson all got in on the scoring act.

Cahill and Buckley powered over before the break to set up a 17-3 half-time lead.

On the restart, Ireland Sevens star Tuohy cut through from a turnover to confirm Mick Galwey's side's dominance and with O'Donovan crossing and Cregan converting for a 31-3 advantage, Buccs were well and truly gone.

They lost fit-again second row David Kelly - back from injury for the first time since January - to a needless yellow card as man-of-the-match Quinlan, Tuohy, Cregan - who also kicked seven points - and Thompson tallied up Shannon's highest score of the campaign.