Shannon remain at the head of affairs after this convincing performance at Thomond Park yesterday, whereas Young Munster are now in deeper trouble and desperately searching for some form of inspiration that will save them from the dreaded drop.

Shannon led 17-0 after only 22 minutes but Young Munster rallied to some extent and Eoin Reddan dropped a goal and Mike Lynch kicked a penalty to reduce their arrears.

However, coming up to half-time, John Lacey trotted over for the simplest of scores and Tom Cregan converted to make it 24-6 to Shannon at half-time.

Despite Mike Mullins entering the fray for Munsters at the beginning of the second half Shannon coasted home.

Scoring sequence: 2 mins: T Cregan pen 3-0; 9 mins: Cregan pen 6-0; 13 mins: Cregan pen 9-0; 16 mins: Cregan pen 12-0; 22 mins: D Quinlan try 17-0; 29 mins: E Reddan drop goal 17-3; 32 mins: M Lynch pen 17-6; 38 mins: J Lacey try, Cregan con 24-6 half-time; 60 mins: Cregan pen 27-6; 64 mins: C Casey try 27-11; 69 mins: Cregan pen 30-11.

SHANNON: J Lacey; M McNamara, A Thompson, M Lawlor, T Cregan; N McNamara, D Hegarty; G McNamara, C Tucker, F Roche, B Buckley, T Hayes, R Collins, C McMahon, D Quinlan. Replacements: J Davis for Lawlor (47), T Buckley for G McNamara (63), J Blaney for Tucker (67), M Hayes for Roche (75).

YOUNG MUNSTER: J Hayes; M Connolly, C Casey, M Lynch, C Doyle; E Buckley, E Reddan; D Clohessy, B Cantrell, M Fitzgerald, D Peters, C Power, D McNamara, K Gallagher, H O'Neill. Replacement: M Mullins for Connolly (half-time), B Murray for Gallagher (62).

Referee: S McDowell (Ulster).