Shannon fall short of play-off qualification

AIB LEAGUE DIVISON 1A:

Shannon 8 Garryowen 9, Coonagh

Title holders Shannon failed to qualify for the AIB League Division 1 play-offs and all because they failed to convert the only try of the game at Coonagh before a huge attendance.

Despite the glorious spring conditions, these great Limerick rivals opted to play mainly through the strengths of their forwards.

Like all local derbies between these two sides, try-scoring opportunities were few and far between and by half-time only three penalties had been landed.

When Garryowen prop Rory Brosnan was yellow carded after eleven minutes' play, Shannon capitalised when their full-back and captain Mossie Lawlor landed a penalty.

But Garryowen led 6-3 at the interval thanks to penalties after 21 and 25 minutes from their out-half Gerry Hurley.

A minute into the second half, Hurley landed his third penalty. Like true champions, Shannon struck back immediately when their outstanding back rower Paddy Butler, a member of this year's successful Ireland Under-20 side, got in for the only try of the game.

But former Munster player Lawlor missed the conversion, ten metres in from the touchline, as the swirling wind took his effort wide.

Garryowen's Ed Mackey was yellow carded after 49 minutes but, even in his absence, Garryowen held firm to earn the bragging rights from this end-of-season showdown.

The result means Shannon have finished fifth in the table on 34 points, level with sixth-placed Garryowen. The play-offs will be contested by Cork Constitution, St. Mary's College, Dolphin and Division 1B table toppers Old Belvedere.

Dolphin went down 23-13 to Cork Con in their final game, so a win here for Shannon would have been enough for them to progress to the semi-finals.

Scorers: Shannon: Try: Paddy Butler; Pen: Mossie Lawlor

Garryowen: Pens: Gerry Hurley 3