Garryowen - 20 Shannon - 21: What scriptwriter could possibly have come up with a finish like this? Champions Shannon remain on course to claim a hat-trick of All-Ireland League titles next weekend after securing the most dramatic of semi-final victories over fierce city rivals Garryowen at a blustery Dooradoyle on Saturday.
Champions Shannon led by a point, 18-17, as the clock ticked into injury time. Then, Garryowen full-back Conor Kilroy landed a magnificent penalty from more than 35 metres out, close to the left touchline, and into the teeth of a stiff breeze.
The Garryowen faithful were all set to celebrate a famous League double this season over the seven-time AIL winners.
However, not for the first time, the Shannon players' indomitable spirit helped pull them through in a seemingly hopeless situation. From the restart, the Shannon pack drove their way deep into the Garryowen '22. Lock Trevor Hogan made a break for the line, but was held up short.
Just as scrum-half Frankie McNamara was set to pick the ball from the ruck, a stray Garryowen hand infringed. Penalty to Mick Galwey's side and a lifeline.
Outhalf David Delaney displayed admirable composure to slot the match-winning kick in the fifth minute of injury time.
Cue the Shannon celebrations and a sense of disbelief among the Garryowen supporters. It was the home side's second successive year to lose a home semi-final in the AIL.
Wind-assisted Garryowen led 11-5 at the break, with Kilroy adding two penalty goals to his 17th minute try.
Shannon, led by outstanding lock Padraic O'Brien and back row forwards John O'Connor and Colm McMahon, hit back in the second half, with centre Eoin Cahill crucially crossing for his second try of the game on 70 minutes. That score helped the champions into a narrow one-point lead heading into the closing final 10 minutes.
Afterwards Shannon coach, Mick Galwey was full of praise for his side's never-say-die spirit. "I suppose the best way to put it is to say the boys just never gave up," Galwey said.
"The heads could have gone down after Conor Kilroy kicked that great penalty into the wind. It was probably a penalty worthy of winning any match.
"But fair play to our lads. They went back down, put the pressure on and forced a penalty at the other end. Maybe I thought we were gone, I don't know. But the players didn't believe it was over.
"It was heartbreaking for Garryowen. They have been the form team in the league and have played exceptionally well."
Garryowen coach, Paul Cunningham, who is stepping down from the position, admitted his players felt devastated. "It was a great kick from Conor (Kilroy) into a gale to put us ahead. I thought that was the winning of the match," Cunningham admitted.
"But, fair play to Shannon. They got one chance, won a line out and kept driving it, kept moving the ball and a penalty arose from that. The lads are devastated. They worked really hard all season.
"I think the 10 points Shannon scored midway through the second half when we had been in front by nine was crucial."
GARRYOWEN: C Kilroy; Ciaran O'Boyle, K Hartigan, P Devlin, Cillian O'Boyle; C Doyle, G Hurley; R Brosnan, P Humphries, R Laffan; E Mackey, D Sheehan; P Neville, A Kavanagh, P Malone (Capt). Replacements: A O'Loughlin for Hartigan (36 mins), M Melbourne for Sheehan (half-time), F Pala'amo for Laffan (55 mins), D Varley for Humphries (76 mins).
SHANNON: D O'Donovan; P O'Connor, A Thompson, E Cahill, B Tuohy; D Delaney, F McNamara; L Hogan, S Cronin, G McNamara; T Hogan, P O'Brien; C McMahon (Capt), J O'Connor, D Ryan. Replacement: J Hadnett for McMahon (60 mins).
Referee: O Trevor (Munster).
