League Round-Up: It was a decent contest to establish which club deserved the accolade of best performance on the opening day of the AIB All-Ireland League Division One.
Munster's inactivity meant that Shannon were handed a nap hand in beating St Mary's 42-13 at Templeville Road but Limerick neighbours Garryowen could lay reasonable claim in travelling to Belfast and hammering last season's beaten finalists Belfast Harlequins 30-13.
The Ulster side had twice beaten Garryowen last season but Saturday's visitors exacted a measure of revenge. The Limerick side led 23-3 at the interval courtesy of tries from Paul Devlin and Adam O'Loughlin. Kevin Hartigan added a third and Conan Doyle's boot saw the visitors hit 30 before a late try for Reece Spee converted by Mike Glancy took a little of the bare look off the home side's tally.
Lansdowne are the other contenders for the day's best win with a superb 33-17 victory over Ballymena at Eaton Park. Their New Zealand outhalf Corey Burt contributed 18 points while the protagonists shared six tries.
Lansdowne have recruited well over the summer and boast a young side with plenty of potential.
Clontarf managed a comfortable 34-20 victory over Dublin University at Castle Avenue with left wing Derek Keane helping himself to a hat-trick of tries. There were also tries from the other wing Max Rantz McDonald and former Connacht interprovincials Niall O'Brien. The students replied with tries from Mark Warburton and Conor Donoghue with outhalf Johnny Watt kicking a couple of penalties.
Cork Constitution edged past UL Bohemian 23-21 in a contest that exploded into life in the second half. Con led 20-6 at the interval with Conor Quaid contributing 15 points. Former Newbridge outhalf Fergal Lawler led the Bohs revival by landing three penalties and a conversion.
Dungannon got their season off to an excellent start with a fine 26-18 victory over Buccaneers. Jeremy Davidson's men were awarded a penalty try and scored another through Ulster wing Tyrone Howe. Former Ireland Under 21 outhalf Gareth Steenson kicked three, penalties, a drop goal and two conversions.
The visitors' points came through the boot of former Shannon player Tom Cregan. It was a late Steenson penalty that denied Buccaneers a bonus point.
Leinster under-21 captain Diarmuid Laffan crossed for one of two tries scored by Blackrock - the other went to wing Stephen Baker - in their 15-6 win over Galwegians at Crowley Park.
UCD got their season off to a solid start, grabbing a bonus point in the process en route to a 36-19 win over Carlow. Former Irish schools international Stephen Grissing crossed for a brace while Darren McKenna, Ken Kennedy and Michael Fanning grabbed the other tries.
