THERE was no fond farewell for Phil Werahiko, as Clontarf bowed out of the AIB League at the semi-final stage in Castle Avenue yesterday.

Werahiko departs for Rotherham Titans in the summer and hopes of bringing Clontarf to a third AIL final bit the dust following a mighty display up front from the Munster men.

Garryowen went in front courtesy of an early Eoghan Hickey penalty before Derek Keane skipped Kevin Hartigan's challenge to make the corner on 12 minutes. Garryowen then had Gerry Hurley sin binned for a deliberate knock on in front of the posts as Clontarf attempted to move the posts.

Conal Keane slotted over the penalty on 27 minutes with Keane just failing to gather for an almost certain try on the left following a cross field kick by Peter O'Brien. But five minutes before the break, Clontarf went over for their second try with a reverse pass from Daragh O'Shea sending Keane over for his second try.

Conal Keane added the difficult conversion but Garryowen then struck in injury time when Pat Neville went over for a try.

Clontarf started the second half without number eight, Martin Garvey, who was sin binned just before the interval. And Shannon then levelled proceedings with Hickey converting Damien Varley's try on 43 minutes. But Hurley stole round the side of the scrum to go over for Shannon's third try on 64 minutes with Hickey then adding his third penalty in the closing stages.

CLONTARF C Keane; M Nethery, M Hewitt, D O'Shea, D Keane; P O'Brien, F O'Loughlin; K Dorian, N Carson, A O'Donnell, A Trenier, J Duffy, S Crawford, D O'Brien, M Garvey Subs C Healy for O'Donnell, J Wickham for Dorian, D Quinn for Crawford, all 49 mins; N McNamara for C Keane, 60 mins; R Dillon for O'Loughlin, 69 mins GARRYOWEN C Kilroy; A O'Loughlin, K Hartigan, C Doyle, Cillian O'Boyle; E Hickey, G Hurley; R Brosnan, D Varley, J Staunton, M Melbourne, E Hickey, P Neville, A Kavanagh, P Malone Subs Ciaran O'Boyle for Hartigan, 17 mins; D Sheehan for E Hickey, 66 mins; D Sherry for Neville, 79 mins Referee A Lewis (IRFU)