All-Ireland League Round-up: Granted, there were ripples of potential on the opening Saturday of Irish rugby's "third tier", but Shannon's quest for another four-in-a-row still looks likely to receive its stiffest opposition from old reliables Cork Constitution and Garryowen.
Con laid down the most intimidating marker by overcoming Clontarf at Temple Hill. Tries from captain Frank Cogan and former Ireland under-21 winger Richie Lane and the kicking of Australian Dan Nethery, whose brother Mark spurned a number of kicks at goal for Clontarf, added up to a 20-10 victory.
UCC haemorrhaged a battalion of former underage internationals during the off-season, all to the benefit of Cork's standard-bearers in the AIB League.
Garryowen also impressed, claiming a bonus point in a 29-23 victory over Dungannon at Stevenson Park.
On this weekend's return it looks like the Ulster clubs - Dungannon, Belfast Harlequins and Dungannon - will struggle just to maintain mid-table respectability.
Harlequins were blown away by a rejuvenated Galwegians under Welsh coach Paul Young, with winger Conor McPhillips, one of nine new recruits, crossing for two tries in a 29-8 win that atones for a 58-point drubbing in this fixture last season.
A sturdy frontrow of Tony Buckley, Seán Cronin and Frankie Roche allied to the boot of Andrew Thompson (he broke the 1,000-point mark) and the return of David Quinlan from Buccaneers helped Shannon to an impressive win in Ballymena.
But what of the other contenders? Blackrock can become a play-off team if player-coach Emmet Farrell's knee holds up for a full season. The former Leinster and Ireland A outhalf came out of enforced retirement on Saturday to conduct the undeniably talented outside backs in a 30-20 away win over Buccaneers.
Farrell capped a man-of-the-match performance with a late try to seal a bonus point.
UL Bohemian and Lansdowne also made positive statements by picking off Terenure (43-8) and St Mary's College (34-18) at Thomond Park and Lansdowne Road, respectively.
Dolphin marked their return to the top flight with a 24-17 win over UCD at Musgrave Park.
Forty tries and five clubs registering bonus-point wins is a decent start for the much maligned All-Ireland League, which the IRFU assure us is in no danger of becoming the fourth tier of Irish rugby behind reserve provincial games. Whether that is true will become apparent over the coming weeks.
