Faith in youth reaping rewards for Pat O'Connor and Shannon

Shannon will be looking to build on their impressive semi-final win over Highfield in today's final against Naas. Picture Dan Linehan

Shannon RFC’s bid to return to Energia All Ireland League Division 1A next season reaches its critical juncture at Coonagh this afternoon when they welcome Naas for the 1B promotion play-off final.

Neither side was expected to have reached this point given their respective third and fourth-place finishes in Division 1B earlier this month but Johne Murphy’s Naas upset the odds to bring down table toppers Old Wesley 27-26 in an epic play-off semi-final at Energia Park last Saturday. Pat O’Connor’s men returned to Limerick from Cork with an equally impressive 25-19 victory at league runners-up Highfield.