Shannon Relegated From Top Flight.

UCD will play in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League next season after they trounced Shannon in the relegation/promotion play-off at Coonagh.

Shannon 0, UCD 42
The illustrious career of prop Marcus Horan ended on a somber note when his efforts were not sufficient to keep Shannon in the top tier of Irish Club rugby next season.

It is the first time since the All Ireland League began in 1991 that Shannon have lost their top status and they were winners of the tournament on nine occasions.

Horan played 67 times for Ireland, including the Grand Slam win, during which he scored 30 points.

He made 225 Munster appearances and scored 125 points.

But this game all belonged to UCD who had by far the greater hunger and once they went in front with a James Thornton penalty after four minutes they were on their way.

They had the first of their tries after 14 minutes when Barry Daly raced in and Thornton converted.

By half time UCD had the game as good as won when they led 16-0 with indiscipline proving costly for Shannon who conceded four chances to Thornton, three of which he converted.

Shannon were expected to mount some sort of a challenge in the second half but within five minutes Daly raced in for his second try which Thornton again converted.

In the final quarter, Horan retired, and UCD took complete control with intercept tries by Danny Kenny and prop James Tracey which Niall Earls converted.

The icing was on the cake with a try in the final minutes by Stephen Murphy.

It was a great day for UCD but for Shannon it was one of the most disappointing occasions in their proud tradition.

Scorers UCD: B Daly 2 tries, D Kenny, J Tracey, S Murphy try each, J Thornton 3 pens 3 cons, N Earls 1 con.