Ulster Bank League Division 1B: Dublin University V Shannon – Irishrugby.ie – November 9 2014

Try: Conor Kearns; Con: Jack McDermott; Pens: Jack McDermott 2

Try: Hugh Kelliher; Con: David O’Donovan

Conor Kearns; Jack Fitzpatrick, Paddy Lavelle (capt), Sebastian Fromm, Killian O’Leary; Jack McDermott, Angus Lloyd; George Walsh, Richard Halpin, Tom Collis, Raef Tyrrell, Jack Burke, Pierce Dargan, Brian du Toit, Nick McCarthy.

Replacements used: Harry Redmond for Walsh (61 mins), Walsh for McCarthy (66), McCarthy for Dargan (70), Paddy Finlay for Halpin (71), Dargan for Walsh (75).

David O’Donovan; Luke O’Dea, Shane McNamara, Shaun Horgan, Stephen Fitzgerald; Tadhg Bennett, Dave Evans; Dennis O’Connell, Liam Cronin, Jason Cronin, Sean McCarthy, Lee Nicholas, Hugh Kelliher, John Shine (capt), Brian Downey.

Replacements used: Conor Glynn for J Cronin (36-56 mins), Jack Cullen for Evans (48), Aidan Butler for Downey (69), Glynn for J Cronin (73).

Trinity Make It Three Wins On The Trot

Eight points from the boot of out-half Jack McDermott proved key at College Park as Dublin University withstood a late charge from Shannon to secure their third straight victory of the Division 1B campaign.

With an impressive haul nine titles to their name, Shannon top the Ulster Bank League roll of honour. However, their relegation from the top flight in the 2012/13 season was a massive hammer blow to the Limerick giants.

Having suffered five defeats in their opening six games this term, Ian Sherwin’s youthful side may well have a fight on their hands if they are to avoid dropping down to the club game’s third tier.

O’Donovan drifted a penalty from a left hand angle past the far post and he was left to rue this miss on 28 minutes when Trinity finally breached the opposition line. A neat lay-off from McDermott brought Conor Kearns into the play and after finding a gap inside the Shannon 22, the centre’s momentum helped him to crash over the line.

McDermott’s successful conversion saw Tony Smeeth’s youngsters take a 10-0 lead into the second period. The only downside for the students was the 38th minute sin-binning of number 8 Nick McCarthy. When he returned to the fray, though, Shannon were still scoreless.

In fact, try-scoring opportunities were at a premium for much of the half. Shannon hooker Liam Cronin was held up close to the whitewash after almost breaking through just past the hour mark.

Replacement scrum half Jack Cullen also went close as Shannon started to increase the pressure. Just when the Trinity defence appeared to be impenetrable, flanker Hugh Kelliher touched down for the visitors seven minutes from time.

This finished off a long period of territorial dominance for Shannon and with O’Donovan comfortably adding the extras, it set up a tense finale.

McDermott’s 79th-minute penalty settled Trinity back down, though, and despite the best efforts of Munster’s Luke O’Dea and Stephen Fitzgerald in the dying moments, Shannon came up short once again.

Referee: Eddie Hogan O’Connell (IRFU)