CORK Constitution maintained their top of the table position with this welldeserved win over the home side at Dooradoyle yesterday.

It was their well-disciplined pack that laid the foundation for the win with Shane O'Connor, skipper Frank Cogan and prop Tim Ryan outstanding.

Garryowen struggled in the line-outs and their inability to get over the gain line despite some good position was to cost them dearly. Having three of their side sent to the sin-bin by referee Donal Courtney did little to help the light blues but they very nearly snatched the game in the dying minutes with a cruel knock-on a yard short depriving them of a win that they did not deserve on the run of play.

Richie Lane opened the scoring on 21 minutes to put Cork in front. Shortly after Garryowen found themselves a man down when Conor Kilroy tripped Denis Hurley on his way to the line. Garryowen withstood the attack and responded with a Gerry Hurley penalty at the other end despite being down to 14 men.

Lane landed another penalty to send Cork in at the break 6-3 in front, but the home side got the perfect start to the second period when an Alan Kingsley drop goal levelled the tie with 43 minutes gone.

Damien Varley worked the ball into good field position to set up the score.

Constitution, however, were always in control up front and they should have gone back into the lead on 48 minutes had Richie Lane been on target with a kickable penalty from a good position.

The Constitution right winger had better fortune with his next effort, landing a fine kick from the right hand side on 50 minutes to Constitution 9-6 in front.

Garryowen coach Paul Cunningham introduced Munster players Eoghan Hickey and Eugene McGovern to try and put some pace into their attack. Peter Malone was then yellow carded but for the second time in the game, they responded to being reduced to 14 men with a score. Cronan Healy's loose kick was taken on by Paul Neville on the right, Ed Mackey made a 20 metre break and scrum-half Gerry Hurley went clear from the for a fine try which Conor Kilroy failed to convert.

The score boosted Garryowen and Ciaran O'Boyle went close following a fluent backline move. Damien Varley then joined the list of home players who warmed the sin-bin and from the resultant penalty, Richie Lane landed the relatively easy kick that was to decide the outcome of what was a very entertaining and fiercely competitive game.

To their credit, Garryowen fought bravely to the finish.

First Conor Kilroy's penalty from halfway went narrowly wide. Then Garryowen were awarded a penalty inside halfway and while the kick was within the radar of Kilroy's kicking ability, Gerry Hurley ran the quick tap. Two Garryowen put-ins had Con under severe pressure but when Shane O'Connor won a Garryowen line-out throw inside the 22, the siege was lifted.

GARRYOWEN C Kilroy; A O'Loughlin, C O'Boyle, C Doyle, K O'Riordan; A Kingsley (E Hickey 53), G Hurley; R Brosnan, D Varley, J Staunton (E McGovern 52); M Melbourne (D Sheehan 61), E Mackey; P Neville (P Humphreys, h-t), A Kavanagh, P Malone CORK CONSTITUTION D Hurley; R Lane, D O'Riordan (D O'Leary 45), D Nethery, C Healy; D Lyons, P McKee; T Ryan, D Murray (R Quin 66), T Ryan; M O'Connell, S O'Connor; R Noonan, B Cuttriss, F Cogan Referee D Courtney, IRFU