This win will have given Quins a great psycholigical boost for their two vital AIL games against Ballymena and UCD and they will need points from these if they are to avoid relegation to Division 2 for next season.

The score read 17-17 at half time with Darren Cave putting the home team in front with a try which Niall O'Connor converted.

Shannon, however, were not too long about settling into the game and they came back with a deserved Frank McNamara try which Andrew Thompson converted.

O'Connor kicked a penalty which was cancelled out by Thompson before Quin centre Stuart Philpott touched down to put them ahead once again. O'Connor made no mistake with the conversion.

But then Colm McMahon scored for the visitors withThompson again adding the points.

In the second half, Quins had tries from Paul Marshall and Paul McKenzie, O'Connor converting one and kicking a penalty. Thompson scored two penalties while substitute Les Horgan got over for Shannon's try but it wasn't to be enough.

BELFAST HARLEQUINS

M Kettyle; G McLoughlin, D Cave, K Pyper, P McKenzie; N O'Connor, P Marshall; N Conlon, S Philpott, J Andress, G Rourke, L Stevenson, A Ward, A Gillespie, S Robinson Subs R Kirkwood for Pyper, 70 mins SHANNON M Lawlor; M Tuohy, R O Loughlin, J Cloghan, D O'Donovan; A Thompson, F McNamara; C Costigan, T Hickey, K Grif"n, F Walsh, P O'Brien, G Noonan, C McMahon, D Quinlan Subs Pat O'Connor for Tuohy, 40 mins; Phil O'Connor for Noonan, 55 mins; L Horgan for Costigan, 55 mins; F Roche for Grif"n, 70 mins; T Bennett for O'Loughlin, 70 mins Referee D Keane (IRFU)