All-Ireland League Semi-finals/ Shannon 21 Clontarf 11: Keeping with a great Shannon tradition, in the aftermath of Saturday's comprehensive victory There Is An Isle was bellowed from the dressingroom. On current form at least one more rendition can be expected this Saturday at Lansdowne Road.
The latest evolution in Mick Galwey's relationship with Shannon has brought the club to the cusp of a third AIB League title in four seasons. This makes for an astonishing rookie season, especially considering five rounds in they suffered a second defeat, away to Belfast Harlequins, in what looked set to be a dud campaign.
After seeing off the best Leinster has to offer, Shannon now march on headquarters with Ulster's leading lights standing in their path. It's fitting Harlequins are the last hurdle as Garryowen were dealt with in the Munster Senior Cup final two weeks back.
Clontarf kept pace until secondrow Andy Wood was sin-binned four minutes before the break, for disturbing a ruck.
At 15 men each nothing had separated the sides as Dave Delaney and Darragh O'Shea slotted two penalties apiece but in first-half injury time excellent continuity play - the trademark of this Shannon team - eventually saw Fionn McLoughlin squeeze over. By then O'Shea had limped off to be replaced by Leinster squaddie Dave McAllister, yet his snap drop-goal attempt and two subsequent penalties missed the target.
"Tactically, we played very well in the second half by playing the game in their half, which was important," said Galwey. "You have to penalise teams when they are down to 14 men and we did."
Thereafter came the stubborn "hold-what-we-have" attitude that Clontarf could not break down. It must have been utterly demoralising for the travelling supporters to see James Blaney and David Quinlan introduced to strengthen the forwards after just 52 minutes.
With target runners Bernard Jackman and James Downey well marshalled, Clontarf attempted to get their maul working but it was also repelled by the physical presence of Stephen Keogh and Tony Buckley - both actually ripped the ball out of attacking mauls.
When Shannon momentum stalled, they probed the touchline to good effect via the boots of Delaney and fullback David O'Donovan.
A third Delaney penalty, after Wood was again penalised at the breakdown, made it 14-6 to leave the visitors needing two scores. Clontarf coach Phil Werahiko's response was to empty the bench. Props Anton O'Donnell and Warren O'Kelly were joined by Aidan Kearney and veteran scrumhalf Dan van Zyl but the impact was minimal.
Then with 12 minutes remaining Shannon appeared to land the fatal blow but referee Simon McDowell pulled back O'Donovan's well-worked try, adjudging Keogh's pass forward.
The coup de grâce came from flanker John O'Connor, who ignored two men outside to step inside the final defender.
The only negatives for Galwey were the late try conceded to Marc Hewitt and the shoulder injury O'Loughlin picked up.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: D O'Shea pen, 0-3; 14: D Delaney pen, 3-3; 16: D O'Shea pen, 3-6; 28: D Delaney pen, 6-6; 41: F McLoughlin try, 11-6. Half-time: 11-6; 59: D Delaney pen, 14-6; 78: J O'Connor try, D Delaney con, 21-6; 80: M Hewitt try, 21-11.
SHANNON: D O'Donovan; I Dowling, B Tuohy, E Cahill, F McLoughlin; D Delaney, F O'Loughlin; L Hogan, N Conroy, T Buckley; E Halvey, T Hayes (capt); C McMahon, J O'Connor, S Keogh. Replacements: J Blaney for Conroy, D Quinlan for Halvey (both 53 mins), A Thompson for Cahill (57 mins), G Murray for O'Loughlin (71 mins, inj), G Noonan for McMahon (79 mins).
CLONTARF: D O'Shea; M Hewitt, C Mahony, J Downey, D Rossi; D Hewitt, M Walls; J Wickham, B Jackman, A Clarke; J Duffy, A Wood; D O'Brien, S O'Donnell, D Tafanel. Replacements: D McAllister for O'Shea (35 mins, inj), A Kearney for Wood, A O'Donnell for Wickham, W O'Kelly for Clarke, D van Zyl for Walls (all 62 mins), N Carson for Jackman (79 mins).
Referee: S McDowell (USR).
