The Garryowen players were left contemplating an unlikely and extremely fortunate victory at Dooradoyle on Saturday. Cork Constitution lost this match, one where they totally dominated the second half, limiting Garryowen to just three forays across the halfway line. Unfortunately on two of those occasions, the Limerick side grabbed tries.

Despite the poor condition of the pitch Con displayed a great appetite for the contest, none more so than excellent number eight Ultan O'Callaghan, David Corkery and young hooker John Fogarty. However, the Limerick team's defence showed great character, none more so than David Wallace, Niall Hartigan, Fergus Costello and second-half replacements Pat Humphreys and Andrew Bermingham.

Humphreys was to have a central influence on the outcome, atoning for a Killian Keane error after his captain put his re-start out on the full, by taking a strike against the head from the resultant scrum. So instead of Garryowen being under pressure again, they took play to within metres of the Con line with just three minutes remaining and conjured the game's decisive score.

From a scrum that was shunted backwards Tom Tierney got the ball away to 18-year-old out-half Jeremy Staunton. With a onehanded show, he momentarily transfixed the Con defence, before gliding through a gap and under the posts. Keane's conversion confirmed victory.

Garryowen had opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a penalty try. Keane converted and kicked a penalty four minutes from the interval. Con's reply was a try from right wing John Kelly that O'Gara converted.

Dave O'Brien dithered following a Staunton chip two minutes after the interval allowing Melvin McNamara to pounce for a try, once again improved upon by Keane. It was Con though who dominated thereafter, grabbing tries through Conor Mahony and O'Callaghan. O'Gara converted the latter and also kicked a penalty, an afternoon heading towards a satisfactory denouement until Staunton's late intervention.

Scoring sequence: 21 mins: penalty try, Keane conversion, 7-0; 28: Kelly try, O'Gara conversion, 7-7; 36: Keane penalty, 10-7. 42: McNamara try, Keane conversion, 17-7; 45: U O'Callaghan try, O'Gara conversion, 17-14; 52: Conor Mahony try, 17-19; 71: O'Gara penalty, 17-22; 77: Staunton try, Keane conversion 2422.

Garryowen: D Crotty; M McNamara, K Keane (capt), J Brooks, K O'Riordan; J Staunton, T Tierney; N Hartigan, P Cunningham, R Laffan; S Leahy, F Costello; C Varley, P Hogan, D Wallace. Replacements: P Humphreys for Cunningham (half-time); A Bermingham for Varley (52 mins); R Leahy for Costello (65 mins).

Cork Constitution: B Walsh; J Kelly, Conor Mahony, Cian Mahony, D O'Brien; R O'Gara, B O'Meara (capt); I Murray, J Fogarty, J O'Driscoll; K Murphy, D Sheehan; D Corkery, U O'Callaghan, J Murray. Replacement: D O'Callaghan for Murphy (66 mins).

Referee: Ed Morrison (England).