TERENURE COLLEGE 14 SHANNON 41, Lakelands Park
Scorers: Terenure College: Tries: Matthew Byrne 2; Cons: James Thornton 2
Shannon: Tries: Nathan Randles, Aran Hehir, Penalty try, Eathon Moloney, Jake Flannery, Pa Ryan; Cons: Jake Flannery 3, Pen try con; Pen: Jake Flannery
HT: Terenure College 7 Shannon 22
Shannon sent out a serious statement of intent today with a six-try 41-14 success against Terenure College at Lakelands Park where teenage out-half Jake Flannery caught the eye with a 14-point personal haul.
Tom Hayes’ youngsters made it back-to-back victories in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League, with Flannery, Nathan Randles, Aran Hehir, Eathon Moloney and replacement Pa Ryan touching down, in addition to a penalty try. Former Ireland Under-20 international Matthew Byrne bagged a brace for Terenure who have now lost three on the bounce at the start of the new season.
Underage internationals Eoghan Clarke and Luke Clohessy featured in the Shannon pack alongside long-serving captain Lee Nicholas and Munster tighthead Ciaran Parker. Nicholas provided the assist for winger Randles to open the scoring in the right corner after just two minutes.
Terenure had to cope with a malfunctioning lineout, and after their number 10 James Thorntonmissed a penalty, Shannon regained a foothold thanks to their influential centre pairing of Will Leonard and Ger Finucane. Flannery nailed a 29th minute penalty but ‘Nure hit back with a confidence-boosting try.
Sam Coghlan Murray released Byrne for a lung-bursting sprint up the left wing and he jinked inside the plentiful Shannon cover for a superb solo try, converted by Thornton. However, Shannon landed two significant blows before the break, moving 22-7 ahead thanks to a penalty try – via a series of punishing Shannon drives – and scrum half Hehir’s late effort which saw him capitalise on some slack defending.
Shannon were struggling to make their third quarter dominance count until Flannery intercepted a pass to run in the bonus point score. Byrne dotted down from a neat offload by Thornton, though, and suddenly ‘Nure were right back in the hunt with Shannon replacement Luke Moylan sin-binned in the 60th minute.
However, the home side were unable to add to their tally and Shannon put the result beyond doubt in the 70th minute, Flannery delivering an excellent cross-field kick over to the left where waiting winger Moloney raced over unopposed.
There was still time for Ryan to stake his claim for a starting spot with a tremendous individual try, five minutes from the end, and Flannery’s touchline conversion was the perfect way to cap off a memorable day for resurgent Shannon.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Matthew Byrne; Sam Coghlan Murray, Stephen O’Neill, Marc Hiney, Sam Dardis; James Thornton, Jamie Glynn; Tiarnan Creagh, Adam Clarkin, Conor McCormack, Michael Melia (capt), Aaron Ryan, Kyle McCoy, Stephen Caffrey, Eoin Joyce.
Replacements: Robbie Smyth, Karl O’Brien, Risteard Byrne, Kevin O’Neill, Harry Moore.
SHANNON: Jamie McGarry; Nathan Randles, Will Leonard, Ger Finucane, Eathon Moloney; Jake Flannery, Aran Hehir; Conor Glynn, Eoghan Clarke, Ciaran Parker, Ronan Coffey, Jade Kriel, Lee Nicholas (capt), Charlie Carmody, Luke Clohessy.
Replacements: Jordan Prenderville, Cronan Gleeson, Luke Moylan, Keith Kavanagh, Pa Ryan.