Five Shannon players on AIB Team of the Season

Shannon received a boost ahead of Saturday's AIB League Division One final when five of their players were named in the AIB/Irish Times Team of the Season for 2004/05.

Captain Tom Hayes, centre Brian Tuohy, hooker Nigel Conroy, tighthead prop Tony Buckley and Munster-contracted flanker Stephen Keogh came out on top in their respective positions for Mick Galwey's table-topping side.

Their opposition at Lansdowne Road next weekend, Belfast Harlequins boast two nominations.

The 24-year-old Hayes, younger brother of Munster, Ireland and Lions prop John Hayes, was one of three players to be included in the bext XV for the second season running.

Lansdowne's Leinster flanker Niall Ronan and Harlequins fly-half Ian Humphreys, man-of-the-match in their semi-final win over Garryowen at the weekend, have also be re-chosen in their respective positions.

Apart from Humphreys, former Ireland Under-21 prop Declan Fitzpatrick makes this year's XV for first-time finalists 'Quins.

AIB/Irish Times Team Of The Season 2004/05:

(15) Ross McCarron (UCD)

(14) Niall O'Brien (Clontarf)

(13) Brian Tuohy (Shannon)

(12) Ted Robinson (Buccaneers)

(11) Ian Humphreys (Belfast Harlequins)

(9) Gerry Hurley (Garryowen)

(1) Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins)

(2) Nigel Conroy (Shannon)

(3) Tony Buckley (Shannon)

(4) Simon Crawford (UCD)

(5) Tom Hayes (Shannon)

(6) Stephen Keogh (Shannon)

(7) Niall Ronan (Lansdowne)

(8) Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University)