The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Kurt McQuilkin. Like the rest of us, the Lansdowne skipper thought it remarkable that their first AIB League win over Shannon should have come during a period of decidedly erratic form. Indeed Saturday's effort at Lansdowne Road followed a 32-point crushing by Clontarf.

Prior to this, the closest Lansdowne had come to breaching the most formidable fortress in the Irish game was in a 7-7 draw in November 1991. "This is a huge win for us and it couldn't come at a better time," said McQuilkin, who was returning to the side after injury.

Meanwhile, the champions of the last three seasons attempted to come to terms with an uncharacteristically ragged performance. "Quite frankly, this was unacceptable," said skipper Anthony Foley. "We made more mistakes out there today than in the week's three training sessions combined."

A look at the scoring sequence would have made the latter comment somewhat superfluous, given that Rory Kearns accounted for his team's total with six penalty goals. And the Lansdowne fullback missed from two further attempts in the first half, albeit from a difficult angle, left on the 25.

In the event, the prospect of a win over the champions made for a thrilling last quarter which warmed Lansdowne hearts on a bitterly-cold afternoon. The dying seconds were especially lively as Shannon laid desperate siege to the home 25.

It was particularly interesting to note the champions' all-out commitment to a winning try. With seven minutes remaining, they were even prepared to sacrifice the outstanding kicking skills of left wing Andrew Thompson in the hope that his replacement, Jason Hayes, might add more dynamism to the attack.

Then, as wave upon wave of blue-hooped jerseys were driven back, the determined figure of Mick Galwey broke forward. But he, too, was repulsed by a wonderfully resolute defence. Next came Hayes with a run down the left, only to be bundled into touch.

A ruck formed from the indecisive line-out; Lansdowne scrumhalf David O'Mahony got the ball back to Richard Governey and as the out-half found touch with an admirable clearance, the final whistle sounded. And the home crowd cheered as they might a cup-tie.

Interestingly, Shannon looked to be set for their sixth straight win of the campaign when the only try of the match, from Thompson, gave them a 14-6 lead at half-time. By that stage, however, Lansdowne's concentration on closing down the Shannon centres, was beginning to pay rich dividends.

The home side proceeded to step up the tempo appreciably, with wind advantage in the second half. With an admirably simple game, they consistently put the ball behind Shannon, making them decidedly ill at ease while Willie Aherne, growing in confidence, was winning some excellent possession out of touch.

Gradually, Kearns's boot began to close the gap until the breakthrough was achieved, midway through the second half. With powerful running inside the Shannon 25, McQuilkin came within inches of scoring a try.

By way of consolation, his side earned a five-yard scrum in which Shannon were penalised. Then, from 22 yards, the splendidly cool Kearns, gave Lansdowne the lead for the first time. Sensing a glorious opportunity, his colleagues responded with a sense of pride that had been strangely absent at Castle Avenue.

Kearns went on to land his sixth penalty goal of the match, bringing his points total to 78 for the season so far. And amid all the excitement of a highly significant victory, it hardly mattered that Shannon had scored the only try of the match.

Later, while wending his way toward the exits, a visiting supporter was heard to observe: "It'll be a sad oul' journey home." And no doubt it was. But all the while, one couldn't help thinking of the compensation that will be demanded on a trip to Ballymena next week.