Return of Solomons helps inspire Belfast Harlequins

 All-Ireland League Round-up:Can Alan Solomons pull it off? Surely not. The former Ulster coach's arrival at Belfast Harlequins may have something to do with their first win of the season, after nine rounds, over defending champions Shannon at Deramore Park on Saturday.

They now lie six points adrift of UCD, and 10 behind Buccaneers and St Mary's with six games to play. Really, at this late stage, it would still require a remarkable sequence of results for Harlequins to remain in Division One.

The man to thank for the felling of Mick Galwey's champions is not the South African coaching "consultant" but 19-year-old Niall O'Connor. The Ulster academy outhalf slotted a superb penalty from the halfway line at the death to secure a 19-17 victory.

The result leaves Shannon fifth in the table, and slipping off the pace of the contenders, who are being led by Cork Constitution after a 27-18 triumph in the local derby against Dolphin yesterday at Musgrave Park.

UL Bohemians' 19-17 win over Buccaneers puts them joint second alongside Clontarf, who drew away to Galwegians, on 30 points, a result that sees Buccs slip into relegation trouble.

Blackrock would also be close to the trapdoor if not for a remarkable ability to pick up bonus points, eight, this season. It didn't help them much on Saturday as they leaked four tries against an inspired St Mary's at Templeville Road.

Elsewhere, UCD surprised Garryowen 20-13, Terenure squeezed past Lansdowne 7-3, and Dungannon moved into a semi-final slot after Richard McCarter kicked five penalties in a 15-8 win over their Ulster rivals Ballymena.

With six rounds remaining in the regular season, realistically, nine clubs are still in contention for the play-offs, and of those Cork Con look the most complete package.