Bennett's last minute penalty earns Shannon a draw

Garryowen 20 Shannon 20

Man-of-the-match and 17-point hero Tadhg Bennett landed a last-minute penalty to earn Shannon a draw in the latest instalment of the local derbies between these two great rivals.

Garryowen led at Dooradoyle after eight minutes when referee Michael Black reversed his original decision to award a penalty to Shannon. Inside centre Declan Cusack, from 45 metres out and six in from touch, managed to split the posts.

Shannon suffered another blow just four minutes later when their scrum half Rob Guerin had to retire injured and he was replaced by Alan Bennie.

To compound the visitors' problems, Bennett missed a penalty chance and Garryowen got in for a try after 23 minutes from right winger Adam O'Loughlin.

Straight from the restart Shannon were awarded a penalty but Bennett's effort drifted to the left and wide of the posts.

Shannon's sense of frustration increased when their influential number 8 David Quinlan was sin-binned for a professional foul as Garryowen almost got in for another try. From the subsequent penalty, Cusack made it 11-0.

Finally Shannon got a lucky break four minutes before the interval. Bennett charged down an attempted clearance and won the race to touch down for a try that he was unable to convert.

A fourth penalty by Cusack made it 17-5 but within a few minutes of the restart Bennett finally found his range to give Shannon hope of a comeback.

Bennett landed another penalty after 51 minutes to further narrow the gap when the Light Blues were penalised for a scrum infringement. The talented out-half struck again when this time a Garryowen player was yellow carded to make it 17-14.

Bennett tied it up after 64 minutes when Garryowen were penalised for being off their feet. It looked over for Shannon when Cusack landed his fifth penalty after 75 minutes but just at the finish Bennett earned a share of the spoils for Shannon with his fifth successful kick at goal.

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE: DIVISION 1A:

Garryowen 20 Shannon 20, Dooradoyle

Scorers: Garryowen: Try: Adam O’Loughlin; Pens: Declan Cusack 5

Shannon: Try: Tadhg Bennett; Pens: Tadhg Bennett 5

HT: Garryowen 17 Shannon 5