Shannon march on

Shannon 35 Ballymena 12

There seems to be no stopping Shannon's march towards an eighth AIB League Division One title if today’s beating of Ballymena is anything to go by.

Strength in depth is the champions' mantra for the season as they continue to showcase an array of young talent. In their first senior campaigns, hooker Sean Cronin and locks Donnacha Ryan and Padraic O'Brien were again to the fore in a win which leaves the Limerick men a single point clear of Garryowen at the top of the table.

Mick Galwey's side chalked up their sixth straight league win with considerable ease at Thomond Park. Tries from full-back David O'Donovan (19 minutes) and the nineteen-year-old Cronin (40) handed Shannon a 14-0 half-time lead.

Turning with the wind, winger Ian Dowling, fly-half David Delaney, who converted all five of Shannon's tries, and O'Brien, played in by an instinctive backflip pass from prop Les Hogan on the hour, added further touch downs.

A jinking run saw Ulster fly-half Paddy Wallace in for a consolation score and Zimbabwean full-back Dirkie Strydom also breached the home cover for a try, but Ballymena were truly outclassed.

Scorers: Shannon: Tries: David O’Donovan, Sean Cronin, Ian Dowling, David Delaney, Padraic O’Brien; Cons: Delaney 5

Ballymena: Try: Paddy Wallace, Dirkie Strydom; Con: Strydom