AIB Cup holders Cork Constitution were knocked out of this year's competition in the first round by last year's beaten finalists St Mary's College, who deserved to win a hard-fought game in atrocious conditions at Templeville Road in Dublin yesterday.

From the start St Mary's looked the better side and only a cluster of slipped passes against the strengthening wind stopped them from getting on the scoreline.

Cork Con eventually went ahead with an easy penalty goal by Daniel Nethery after 10 minutes. Ominously Nethery scored two more penalties before half-time as the weather conditions worsened. Jonathan Sexton managed one penalty for the home side to leave the score close but uncomfortable at 3-9.

However St Mary's dominated the second half with a gusty gale blowing at their backs and the inevitable scores arrived. The breakthrough was made with a close-in try scored by number eight Hugh Hogan after serious forward pressure. It was converted by Jonathan Sexton to give St Mary's the lead and Sexton scored a further penalty on 75 minutes to clinch matters.

Mercifully, referee Ger English blew up exactly on 80 minutes and saved both suffering teams from the exacerbation of extra time.

ST MARY'S R Gannon, J McWeeney, S Grif"ng, H Gervaise, R Doherty, J Sexton, M D'Arcy, C O Byrne, M Duggan, R Sweeney, G Logan (capt), S Bradshaw, W Duggan, B Donohoe, H Hogan Subs M Aboud for Donohoe, 60 mins; Robert Sweeney for Richard Sweeney, 65 mins; E Keane for Bradshaw, 65 mins CORK CONSTITUTION D Hurley, D O Riordan, T Gleeson, D Nethery, C Healy, C Quaid, P McKee, C Murphy, R Quinn, T Ryan, J Moloney, S O Connor, R Noonan, E Leamy, F Cogan (cap t) Subs D Lyons for Quaid, 20 mins; M O'Connell for Moloney, 49 mins; C Ryan for Murphy, 56 mins; D Murray for Quinn, 56 mins Referee G English (Munster Branch)