SHANNON, the defending champions, gathered two more points en route to winning the Insurance Corporation All Ireland League First Division title when, at Stevenson Park on Saturday, they defeated Dungannon 34-12.

Next Saturday, in front of their passionate supporters at Thomond Park, Shannon will play Limerick rivals Old Crescent. Now three points clear with two matches to play if Shannon win next Saturday they will take the title.

If over the previous two weeks Shannon had to endure some anxiety before claiming narrow wins over Blackrock College and Terenure College, their win on Saturday was as comprehensive as the margin indicates.

Dungannon were very badly hit by injuries and went into the match not sure if First Division survival was guaranteed. But such were the results from other matches, that Dungannon look very likely to retain their status.

Yet despite their problems, they made it clear from the outset that there was not going to be any passive acceptance of Shannon's superiority. Indeed, they took a seven point lead after 10 minutes and fought with great determination. They did not have the depth or the craft, however, to match the champions and a 22 point losing margin was an illustration of that.

Once Shannon took the lead after 23 minutes, it was clear they were on their way to another win. With an interval lead of 17-7 after playing into the wind, there was never any doubt that they would win without difficulty.

Complacency or smugness has never been part of the Shannon approach. Pleased though their coach, Niall O'Donovan, was after this win, there was no element of presumption about retention to the title.

"There were many pleasing aspects of our performance and I would say at times it was about 80 per cent. We should have taken advantage of a few chances that got away. But Dungannon hit us hard and played with tremendous spirit and did not make it easy for us."

On the title, he said: "We must still win another match and until we do that we cannot be sure. There can be absolutely no relaxation of effort."

The Shannon pack laid a solid foundations for the win. Their rucking and mauling was more authoritative and their support play much better. Outside the scrum, they were more competent and their ability to react was always sharper. The Dungannon backs at times were afflicted by indecision, losing possession as a result. They had, however, in left wing Roger Cowan, a player whose pace set up a try and almost yielded another after a splendid run.

Mick Galwey's presence was yet again an important factor in the line out for Shannon, getting good support from Rory Sherrif. The back row trio of Eddie Halvey, Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan prospered on the work of the tight five. Gavin Russell, at scrum hall, took the right options and yet again Alan McGrath impressed in the centre, with old hand Pat Murray, at full back, willing to come up in support of his three quarters. It was all too powerful for Dungannon.

For Dungannon, Michael Patton was very industrious, Keith Walker won some good line out ball and Jeremy Hastings was an assiduous worker in the back row. It was Hastings who got the first score of the match, a try after 10 minutes, the consequence of some good rucking. Keith McGarry converted and Shannon were seven points down.

The response was a good try in the 16th minute from McGrath, with Andrew Thompson and Billy O'Shea helpers in its creation. Thompson converted and seven minutes later gave Shannon the lead with a penalty.

Then in the 32nd minute, Quinlan got a try after a movement right to left seemed to be halted, but Quinlan gathered, turned inside and ran to the line to score near the posts. Thompson again converted and Shannon had turned a seven points deficit into a 10-point lead in 16 minutes.

Thompson stretched the advantage to 20-7 with a penalty just after the interval. While a great run by Cowan brought play to the Shannon line and Gary Leslie forced his way over for a try, this was the final reward for Dungannon. A fine break by O'Shea, who way for Shannon's third try in the 60th minute, with Foley the scorer after he handled twice in the surge to the line. Thompson again converted.

Shannon used their full complement of replacements in the final stages. Conor McDermott had the final say in injury time with a try and Thompson again converted for a personal contribution of 14 points.