Ulster Bank League: Division 1B Previews - Shannon vs Bohemians

SHANNON 43 UL BOHEMIANS 20, Thomond Park (played on Friday)
Scorers: Shannon: Tries: Conor Glynn, Jack O'Donnell, Niall Mulcahy 2, Penalty try; Cons: Jack Stafford, Fionn McGibney 2; Pens: Jack Stafford 2, Fionn McGibney 2
UL Bohemians: Tries: Noel Kinane, Penalty try; Cons: Rick McKenna 2; Pens: Rick McKenna 2
HT: Shannon 11 UL Bohemians 3

Shannon's mid-season revival continued at Thomond Park on Friday night with a barnstorming 43-20 derby win over promotion hopefuls UL Bohemians.

Buoyed by their two recent victories, Tom Hayes' home side quickly established dominance up front with young scrum half Jack Stafford given an enviable stream of quick ball.

Stafford's half-back partner Fionn McGibney left-footed a penalty through the uprights before Bohs responded in kind, Rick McKenna knocking over the three-pointer after a terrific run by winger Cian Aherne had got them into scoring range.

Munster hooker Duncan Casey was a prominent figure in the forward exchanges for Shannon. After McGibney had restored the hosts' lead in the 18th minute, Casey made two breaks in the lead up to a close range five-pointer from loosehead Conor Glynn.

Shannon's impressive mauling saw UL pushed back to their try-line just a couple of minutes into the second half, and the ensuing penalty try for collapsing was converted by McGibney.

A sin-binning left Bohs down to seven in the scrum and although McKenna had slotted his second penalty, set piece ball saw Shannon centre Will Leonard break up towards the line and there was no stopping replacement Niall Mulcahy from a few metres out - 23-6.

The margin was out to 20 points after McGibney rewarded the Shannon scrum with three more points, but yellows for Brian Downey and McGibney saw Hayes' charges go through a sticky patch and concede a try to Bohs lock Noel Kinane.

With 10 minutes remaining, winger Greg O'Shea followed up on a strong carry from Mulcahy to scramble through for Shannon's bonus point score. A Stafford penalty was followed by a UL penalty try, their forwards drawing the decision from referee Eddie Hogan O'Connell following a lineout maul five metres out.

However, fittingly it was the victors who had the final say when full-back Stephen Fitzgerald ran in an intercept try all the way from his own 22, with Stafford's conversion sealing a memorable 23-point success.