CORK CONSTITUTION and Shannon consolidated their positions at the top of the All-Ireland League at the weekend, with Cork Constitution beating Dublin side St Mary's at home 19-8 and Shannon, inspired by veteran and two-try man Andrew Thompson, running in four tries in their 27-12 win over Terenure.

Garryowen also came up trumps in their search for a home semi-final in the play-offs, but had to see off a Lansdowne team fighting for survival. They will be happy to have seen the back of Dublin with the points in the bag.

That Lansdowne held the Limerick side to a 5-11 defeat shows how desperate the now third-from-the-bottom Ballsbridge side are. Garryowen's win was largely due to a second-half touch down from Keith Earls, who scored his first league try in his first start.

The win means Garryowen kept their charge intact. They are now just four points below second-placed Shannon with Clontarf, who beat Greystones at Castle Avenue, in fourth position.

So wins all around for the top four clubs keeps the top looking as it did last week, although Dolphin and UCD, both of whom had good wins at the weekend, will have ambitions to sneak into one of the top four places.

The students left Stradbrook with a bonus point in the highest scoring and perhaps the most bizarre game of the weekend. Had Blackrock not shaken themselves in the final 10 minutes, the score would have been an embarrassment. UCD led at that point by 33-3. Simon Morrissey, Des Dillon, David Rowan and Fionn Carr helped themselves to a try each to bring the score line significantly closer and reward Blackrock with a bonus point in the 29-38 defeat.

Fifth-placed Dolphin, who faced bottom placed Dungannon, would have had high hopes of successfully chasing their dream of a play-off position and despite some late pressure from the Ulster side, the Cork team held their nerve.

As they often do, Dolphin looked to the boot of Barry Keeshan to build a 12-point cushion before half-time with four well-placed penalties.

Two tries from David Pollack, one of them converted, ensured a final 19-12 result for Dolphin. Dungannon earned a lose bonus point, but it has not moved them from their place by the trapdoor.

Just as all four top sides won, all four bottom sides were beaten, with the fifth team from the bottom, Galwegians, earning vital points against Old Belvedere. Their 24-26 win will be vital for retaining division one status.