McDonogh kicks Shannon to victory

SHANNON 21 DOLPHIN 18

A dose of precise place-kicking steered Shannon to a superb comeback win over Dolphin in their opening Ulster Bank League clash at Coonagh.

Dolphin were on course for an away victory when they opened up a 15-3 lead inside the first 20 minutes, with centre Eric Moloney touching down twice.

Young out-half Gareth Quinn McDonogh slotted a 15th minute penalty for Shannon, but it was all Dolphin in the wet conditions.

Barry Keeshan kicked the Corkmen level before Shannon failed to deal with a 22-metre drop out and Moloney scooted in by the posts for a converted try.

Some poor first-up tackling from Shannon was then exposed as Moloney motored through for an unconverted second score, stretching the lead to 12 points.

But with their lineout providing a plentiful supply of ball, Shannon gradually improved. Quinn McDonogh knocked over his second penalty to cut the gap to 15-6 for half-time.

The Shannon scrum was on top but scoring opportunities were limited with a greasy ball leading to spilled passes and wrong attacking options.

Into the second period, Shannon increased the pressure on leaders Dolphin with a penalty each from Quinn McDonogh and full-back Ben Sargent, who helped the club's Under-21s win a North Munster League and Cup double last season.

Dolphin were struggling for territory and in their first visit to the Shannon 22, after the break, Keeshan punished a tackle offence for an 18-12 scoreline.

Shannon winger Luke O'Dea needed to be alert to thwart a promising Dolphin move on the hour mark and the hosts, led by new player-coach Stephen Keogh in the back row, crucially had the better of the closing stages.

Sargent missed an optimistic 53-metre penalty, but McDonogh landed a brace from closer in after 66 and 70 minutes to suddenly draw Shannon level.

They kicked on for home thanks to a huge shove in a scrum from their impressive pack, and youngsters Sargent rewarded his forwards by converting the match-winning penalty.

Scorers:

Shannon: Pens: Gareth Quinn McDonogh 5, Ben Sargent 2

Dolphin: Tries: Eric Moloney 2; Con: Barry Keeshan; Pens: Barry Keeshan 2

HT: Shannon 6 Dolphin 15