All-Ireland League Division oneIt's a familiar story in the AIB All-Ireland League with Shannon already atoning for last season's "blip" (now an acceptable part of Irish rugby's lexicon) when they failed to make the play-offs.
They came to Castle Avenue on Saturday and handed Clontarf a second home defeat in as many weeks to remain the only club with a winning record after four rounds.
Tries from John Clogan, Stephen Kelly and Munster hooker Seán Cronin saw them coast to a 23-16 victory that leaves the post-Phil Werahiko era Clontarf in the unfamiliarity of mid-table.
A late Barry Keeshan penalty saw Dolphin climb to third place after a 23-22 win over Galwegians yesterday.
Champions Garryowen and Cork Constitution remain in the other play-off spots after a weather-dictated 12-all draw at Temple Hill.
UL Bohemians ensured the chasing Leinster clubs remain out of contention with a 10-3 win over St Mary's, now officially in crisis after losing the opening four games.
So no change at the top but the seemingly doomed new boys to Division One, Old Belvedere and Greystones, finally found their strides taking the respective scalps of Terenure and Dungannon.
A Reinhart Gerber conversion of captain Stuart Abbot's try five minutes into injury time provided Greystones with their first win, away too, at Stevenson Park.
Connacht's Andy Dunne made a notable return from injury with three penalties and a conversion as Belvedere finally began to produce after a pre-season of aggressive youth scouting.
Dunne and Ireland under-19 centre Eoin O'Malley combined to put flanker Stephen Rockett over before Killian Coleman claimed a second touchdown. A late penalty from outhalf David McAllister secured Terenure a bonus point that leaves them sixth in the table.
Blackrock are a point adrift in seventh thanks to their marquee players producing the goods in the 24-8 win over Lansdowne at the RDS. Fionn Carr got over for a try and kicked four penalties and a conversion, while the Leinster winger Gary Brown, playing centre, claimed a second try. Ballymena also continued their revival with a 19-0 win over UCD at Eaton Park.
