Shannon secure home play-off tie

Shannon 37 Cork Constitution 20

Irish rugby league international Ian Dowling scored a try in either half at Thomond Park this afternoon as Shannon secured a home Division One play-off date with a 37-20 dismissal of Cork Con.

Mick Galwey's side truly are the benchmark in the top flight and now look odds-in favorites to regain the AIB League trophy they lifted against Con almost twelve months ago.

The Limerick men racked up their eighth straight win since a 19-18 loss to Belfast Harlequins before Christmas in stunning fashion - racing into an unassailable 23-6 half-time lead.

First, hooker James Blaney was driven over, following a Colm McMahon lineout take , in the opening skirmishes at Thomond Park.

Tom Cregan, starting at full-back, converted and added the extras to Dowling's first - set-up by a John O'Connor lineout steal - out wide.

Cregan also edged Pat McCarthy on the penalty count as he kicked three to the Con scrum-half's first half brace.

Shannon winger Dowling made sure of the home side's eleventh league win on 49 minutes when he stretched over in the corner.

A deserved try for openside flanker O'Connor followed - incredibly Shannon's 21st try in their last four outings - before Con grabbed a brace of converted consolation scores through Cian Mahony and Brendan Curtriss.