All-Ireland League: Cork Constitution's 28-20 bonus point victory over Lansdowne at Temple Hill on Saturday finally sees a club put some daylight between the chasing pack. UL Bohemians' 18-5 defeat to Garryowen at Dooradoyle means Con have a seven-point cushion on the other play-off incumbents - Shannon, UL Bohemians and Clontarf.
Ominously, Mick Galwey's Shannon move to second after denting the semi-final aspirations of fellow ex-Lions lock Jeremy Davidson's Dungannon with a comprehensive 31-0 drubbing. League veteran Andrew Thompson guided the defending champions with 16 points, including one of four tries.
Dungannon and Garryowen appear the only clubs capable of breaking into a play-off spot with four rounds remaining.
Clontarf recorded a seventh successive victory over Buccaneers, 20-3, at Castle Avenue.
So that's the top half, but the most captivating battles will be between those scrapping to retain their division one status.
Blackrock appear safe after a Fionn Carr-inspired 41-23 victory over Ballymena. The Leinster Academy player crossed for a hat-trick of tries in a 31-point haul. Former Ireland A outhalf and player coach Emmet Farrell also got among the tries as he continues to defy a knee injury that forced him out of the professional game.
Bottom club Belfast Harlequins continued their remarkable resurgence with a third straight win, this time a 19-3 defeat of St Mary's College that leaves them a single point adrift of UCD.
The students overcame Galwegians 31-24 thanks to a stand-out display from another potential Leinster star, Fergus McFadden.
Defeats over the weekend ensure Buccaneers and St Mary's remain in relegation trouble entering the final rounds. Still, any momentum their rivals gained is interrupted by another break in the schedule due to the Six Nations - or more accurately, the IRFU policy of staggering the club fixture list.
