Cork Constitution 12  Garryowen 12:The symbolism of a hard-fought draw at Temple Hill was not lost on Constitution coach Brian Hickey when he predicted a long hard road to the end of the campaign.

With all four play-off spots still up for grabs and only 13 points separating the top nine sides, Hickey was left to rue a lacklustre first-half performance.

His side failed to capitalise on the advantageous wind at their backs and as a result paid the price for taking only a 9-0 lead into the interval from three penalties by Ronan O'Gara.

Garryowen played manfully into the teeth of the wind but the futility of the exercise was highlighted in the 33rd minute when Jeremy Staunton's drop goal attempt from in front of the posts was blown horribly wide.

O'Gara landed his fourth penalty 15 minutes after the interval but by then Garryowen had sent Kevin O'Riordan over in the corner for a try converted by Billy Treacy after Staunton had broken through the cover.

Another try, this time after French wing Cyril Tupiniere danced round fullback Brian Walsh in the opposite corner to touch down, brought the teams level just after the hour.

That was the way it stayed although an O'Gara drop-goal attempt was crucially blocked down.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 23 mins: O'Gara pen, 3-0; 27 mins: OGara pen, 6-0; 40 mins: O'Gara pen, 9-0; 45 mins: O'Riordan try, Treacy con, 9-7; 55 mins: O'Gara pen, 12-7; 62 mins: Tupiniere try, 12-12.

CORK CONSTITUTION: B Walsh (R O'Donovan, 63), A Sherrard, Conor Mahony, Cian Mahony, D Dillon, R O'Gara, B O'Meara; I Murray, J Fogarty, J O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll (S O'Connor, 39), J Williams (J Sheahan, 80), J Murray, U O'Callaghan.

GARRYOWEN: D Crotty, C Tupiniere, J Staunton, B Treacy, K O'Riordan, K Keane (R Niland, h-t), T Tierney; J Giltenane, P Humphries, R Laffan, E Kelly (S Leahy, 73), J O'Sullivan, C Varley (C Hartigan, 73), P Neville, P Malone.

Referee: S McDowell (Ulster).