Mick Galwey’s Shannon are back on top after their seven-try 52-8 romp over a hapless Dungannon. Clontarf, who slip to second, had former Ireland under-19 Donovan Rossi to thank as he grabbed a hat-trick in their 19-13 defeat of UCD.
With just three weekends left before the divisional play-off places are decided, Harlequins marked their card with a stunning 56-14 thumping of Buccaneers.
Buccaneers had no answer to Harlequins’ attacking flair, and kicked three penalties through Justin Meagher to trail 20-9 at the break.
The home side, with eight tries in all, continued apace on the restart as flanker Chris McCarey brought his try tally to three, South African centre WP Strauss breezed over, while returning Ireland under-21s Lewis Stevenson and Paul McKenzie also got in on the act. Fly-half Ian Humphreys notched his second touchdown too for an impressive 16-point haul.
At Thomond Park, former Ireland international Eddie Halvey’s through-the-legs pass for Tom Hayes’ second-half try was the undoubted highlight as Shannon continued to pick up the pace. No 10 David Delaney also chipped in with seven conversions and a drop goal.
Advertisement
Struggling Dungannon did notch a 76th-minute try through centre Seamus Mallon, but by that stage Fionn McLoughlin, Dave O’Donovan, Andrew Thompson, Colm McMahon, Hayes, John O’Connor and Tom Cregan had already scored tries.
Connacht veteran Eric Elwood matched Delaney’s efforts with seven conversions and a penalty of his own in Galwegians’ 52-10 defeat of bottom side County Carlow. The 35-year-old also provided a surreal moment when he dallied for close to 10 seconds in taking a drop goal attempt midway through the second half. As the Carlow rearguard watched it narrowly wide, Galwegians’ No 8 Scott Donald followed up to pinch a try with the loose ball.
Blackrock College and Cork Constitution shared out an 8-8 draw at Stradbrook, with Andy O’Neill and young Con full-back Peter O’Brien trading first-half tries.
Meanwhile, Ulster’s Paddy Wallace put in a 20-point cameo in Ballymena’s 45-5 defeat of Lansdowne.
At College Park, Dublin University’s luck continued to desert them as lock Marc Warburton was sent off at a crucial stage in their 6-5 defeat at the hands of Garryowen. The visitors won out thanks to Gerry Hurley’s first-half penalty brace.