Old Crescent were relegated from the top flight of the AIB League despite scoring a deserved victory over Shannon at Thomond Park.

Crescent fans will be left wondering why their team left it so late in the season to produce most of their best rugby. Their home form proved their undoing. The Rosbrien side won just once at home in the league this season. Crescent assumed control in the opening half, scoring three unanswered tries.

Try-scorer Billy Treacy was in excellent form with the boot and contributed an impressive 21 points of his side's total.

Shannon, with little more than pride at stake, upped their performance after the break but two penalty goals by Treacy ensured the visitors' victory.

Old Crescent: B Treacy; S Madigan, M Brodie, W Munn, B Leahy; S Tuohy, E Reddan; J Cullinane, M Hayes, G Evans, B Toland, M Bird, G Schoemann, P Glamuzina, D Bowles. Replacements: A Herlihy for Glamuzina (inj 6 mins), B Begley for Treacy (68 mins).

Shannon: J Lacey; N McNamara, M Lawler, J Davis, Jason Hayes; D Delaney, C O'Loughlin; L Hogan, F Roche, John Hayes, M Galwey, J Langford, B Buckley, J O'Connor, D Quinlan. Replacements: D Costello for L Hogan, R Collins for Buckley (half-time), P O'Brien for M Galwey (54 mins), G Stapleton for Lawler (70 mins).

Referee: B Smyth (MAR).