Late try gives Shannon win over title contenders

Shannon 16 Cork Constitution 11

A 69th-minute try from hooker Frankie Roche helped champions Shannon to a prized 16-11 victory over their Munster rivals Cork Constitution at Thomond Park.

Roche, one of four members - Mossie Lawlor, Stephen Keogh and Trevor Hogan being the others - of the extended Munster squad who landed back on Irish soil at 3.30am this morning after last night's Heineken Cup victory in Castres, had a vital say in the proceedings.

In a repeat of last season's Division One final, Roche barged over from a lineout maul to push Shannon 16-3 in front and set up their eighth straight league win, and one which sees them remain a single point clear of Garryowen at the top of the table.

The Thomond Park hosts led 9-0 at half-time thanks to two penalties from Dave Delaney and a drop goal from Munster full-back Mossie Lawlor, another of the champions' Castres crew.

Con flanker Shane O'Connor (37 minutes) and Shannon lock Donnacha Ryan (42) were both yellow carded either side of the interval, but neither sin-binning had a big effect on the game.

Con did manage to get off the mark - fly-half Daragh Lyons booted a penalty after missing one just after the restart.

However, Roche's try and Delaney's conversion pushed Shannon too far in front.

Third-placed Con bravely came back in the final stages - young centre Tom Gleeson notched an injury-time try and while Lyons missed the conversion, he added a penalty in the final seconds to earn the visitors a losing bonus point.

Scorers: Shannon: Try: Frankie Roche: Con: Dave Delaney; Pens: Delaney 2; Drop: Mossie Lawlor Cork Con: Try: Tom Gleeson; Pens: Daragh Lyons 2