All-Ireland League round-up:Well, there is no doubt about the shock of the round or, indeed, the player of the day as the ghost of internationals past Johnny Bell sank mighty Shannon with two tries in Dungannon's stirring 25-18 eclipse of Shannon in Division One of the AIB All-Ireland League at Stevenson Park on Saturday.
Sitting at the foot of the table, the northern club reclaimed Bell, to steady the midfield, Ulster fullback Bryn Cunningham, to close the back door, and prop Justin Fitzpatrick, to anchor the scrum. It worked a treat as this threesome gave Shannon something to think about when the sides were announced and something greater to consider when the first whistle sounded.
It allowed Cork Constitution the wriggle room to climb to the summit, for at least one week, on the back of Cronan Healy's fifth-minute try and five penalties from Munster's forgotten man, Jeremy Manning, in a 20-13 away win at Lansdowne.
Ireland Under-20 tighthead Ruadhrai Murphy countered Healy's surge immediately by crossing for Lansdowne as Robbie Dolan converted. Manning had to contend with non-stop rain, the tricky underfoot conditions and Dolan's insistence on turning the match into a personal kicking dual. In this regard, Constitution's pack gave Manning the better opportunities. And he took them.
Garryowen emerged with a collective wide smile by virtue of their 19-14 edging of UL-Bohemian in a no-nonsense Limerick derby at the University Grounds. This was an eight-pointer as it had the effect of Garryowen moving in to the fourth play-off place and their victims slipping to sixth.
The kicking skills of Conor Kilroy and Munster's Gerry Hurley allied to a 53rd-minute Frank McKenna try got the job done. A late penalty from outhalf Fergal Lawlor furnished UL-Bohemians with a bonus point.
Clontarf kept their promise of a challenge to on track with a try from Derek Keane seven minutes into injury-time to break the resolve of Old Belvedere 16-14 at Anglesea Road.
There is a gap beginning to appear between the first quartet and those chasing. Blackrock were again indebted to the sharp skills of Fionn Carr for his 12 points in the form of a try, penalty and two conversions - Niall Morris got the second touchdown - in a 17-12 success at Ballymena.
St Mary's veteran outhalf Frank Lynch's injury-time drop goal sickened Greystones 13-9 at Templeville Road to leave the Wicklow club drained and dangling at the end of the table.
UCD are comfortably located in mid-division following their workmanlike 10-0 defeat of Galwegians at the Belfield Bowl.
Dolphin ditched Terenure 30-6 in Cork with a four-try blitz from Munster number eight James Coughlan, twice, prop Christy Condon and wing Rory Kenneally.
DIVISION ONE STANDINGS
P W D L F A B Pts Cork Con 9 7 1 1 176 82 2 32
Shannon 9 7 0 2 162 102 3 31
Clontarf 9 6 0 3 165 121 5 29
Garryowen 9 6 1 2 146 100 2 28
Blackrock 9 5 0 4 162 147 3 23
UL Bohemian 8 5 0 3 120 79 2 22
Dolphin 9 5 0 4 171 169 2 22
UCD 9 5 0 4 120 160 1 21
St Mary's 9 4 0 5 130 129 4 20
Ballymena 9 4 0 5 147 139 3 19
Galwegians 9 3 2 4 100 114 2 18
Old Belvedere 9 3 0 6 147 155 5 17
Terenure 9 2 0 7 132 186 6 14
Dungannon 8 2 1 5 125 173 2 12
Lansdowne 9 2 1 6 104 172 2 12
Greystones 9 2 0 7 111 190 2 10
