Former Ireland international Mick Galwey will stand down as head coach of AIB League Division One club Shannon at the end of the season, due to business commitments.

It is expected the ex-Munster second row and captain will assume the role of director of rugby at the club.

Galwey has had four fruitful years guiding the Limerick giants to successive AIB League Division One titles in 2005 and 2006, Munster Senior Cup titles in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and this season has already seen them collect their first ever AIB Cup crown.

'Gaillimh', now 41, will be determined, in his final season, to see Shannon win a record ninth AIB League Division One title next month.

They are at home to neighbours Garryowen in a mouth-watering semi-final on May 3, with the final set for Musgrave Park on Sunday May 11.

As a player with the Parish club, he won six AIB League winners medals and ten Munster Senior Cup winners medals.

The man to replace him in the Shannon coaching hot steat next season will be a familiar face, Geoff Moylan.

Moylan coached Highfield to eighth place in Division Two this season and having left Shannon in 2004, he also had a two-year stint with Buccaneers.

He had coached Shannon for three years with two AIB League titles and three Munster Senior Cups won during his time in charge.

Together, Galwey and Moylan were part of the Ireland management team for the first two seasons of the AIB Club international scheme as manager and head coach respectively.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader newspaper, Moylan said: "I took over at Shannon in 2001 after Conor McDermott stood down. I enjoyed my three years there before I a took a year's break from the game for business reasons.

"It was my own decision to move on from Highfield and I am looking forward to returning to familiar territory next season."