All-Ireland League Round-up:Garryowen sent out an early warning that it will take strong hands and minds to remove the AIB League crown from their grasp with a clinical 26-3 defeat of Ballymena on the opening day at Eaton Park on Saturday.
The game provided a stunning illustration of their "simplicity is genius" approach as they bankrupted a home pack containing quality forwards such as Ian Caldwell, Neil McMillan and Chris Henry.
It wasn't enough that they humbled the Northern club on their own patch; the champions came away with a bonus point, courtesy of tries from wings Lorcan Bourke and Ciarán O'Boyle, fullback Conor Kilroy and captain Paul Neville.
Promoted Old Belvedere came within a whisker, two points to be exact, of making an explosive start against Shannon (13-15) at Anglesea Road, especially when their tighthead Brad Kos was the unlikely try-scoring hero at the end of a swift 34th-minute movement.
It all unravelled, however, as they could not maintain their composure in defence. Outhalf Andrew Thompson's five penalties were sufficient to see Shannon seal victory.
Cork Constitution benefited from the control of outhalf Jeremy Manning - showing no ill-effects from late misses in Munster's lame draw against Glasgow on Friday night - and the touchdowns from wing Tom Gleeson and scrumhalf John Stringer (brother of a certain Peter) to ease past Blackrock College 18-5 at Temple Hill.
It was an unsatisfactory return to league action for the former Ireland and Lions hooker Shane Byrne. It must have seemed like little has changed since his early years in the league.
Indeed, Munster's first-day domination was completed by Barry Keeshan's 18-point contribution as Dolphin came from behind to defeat Greystones 24-13 at Musgrave Park and the former Ireland Schools outhalf Fergal Lawlor's orchestration of the 16-8 sacking of UCD by UL Bohemian at The Bowl in Limerick.
Lansdowne edged out Clontarf 15-10 at the RDS. Once again, it was the boot that was decisive, with left wing Robbie Dolan striking three penalties and drop-goals arriving from right wing Neil Walsh and replacement Luke Cozens.
The Galwegians outhalf Cormac O'Beirne maintained the hot form he has been showing in the Connacht Senior Cup; his match-winning input included a try and conversion in the 10-8 defeat of St Mary's College at Crowley Park.
The match of the day was at Stevenson Park, where Dungannon, leading 28-6 at the interval, had to survive a blistering four-try revival from Terenure College, with hooker Anthony Ronan crossing twice, to hold out for a 31-30 victory at the death.
