While Cork Constitution kept their winning record intact with three tries against Buccaneers, the Temple Hill Road side will be without winger Anthony Horgan, possibly for up to three weeks. Horgan came off after five minutes play with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
It was the Munster player's first match since the European Cup semi-final in May and he is considered doubtful for the club's next league match and Munster's Celtic League quarter-final in just under two weeks' time against Connacht.
"Anthony came off after about five minutes," said a club official. "He could be out for a couple of weeks but we won't know until we look at the injury later this week. It appeared to be his hamstring and if so then he could miss Munster's match in the Celtic league as well."
Cork Con were forced to come back from 17-6 down at half-time when Paddy O'Sullivan and Wayne Munn went over for tries, Pat McCarthy keeping Cork Con in touch with two successful penalties.
But the home side came out in the second half rejuvenated, Jerry Murray touching down after four minutes and substitute Rory Kenneally adding another to draw the sides level, at 20-20.
Although Lee Turner restored Buccaneers' lead from the boot just after the hour, it was Munster backrow Jim Williams who landed Con their third win from three in his first club start of the season.
Despite referee Tony Redmond playing nine minutes' extra time in the second period, Williams's try and McCarthy's conversion were enough to stop Buccaneers clawing their way back from their first defeat of the AIL season.
Ballymena also continued to make a big noise and lead Cork Con at the top of the table on points difference. Both sides have won three matches and have a bonus point each. The Ulster team simply crushed Carlow with a five-try haul at Eaton Park where the game was done and dusted by half-time.
At that stage Ballymena had three of their five scores, with Carlow centre Ian Dwyer landing two penalties to barely keep in touch 19-6 .
Paul Shields, Matt McCullough, former Carlow fullback Matt Waterhouse, Huw Jones and Adam Larkin all contributed with the excellent Larkin also adding four conversions and a penalty in his side's 36-6 win.
At Templeville Road, St Mary's and Blackrock certainly provided scores for the paying public with four tries each. Once again outhalf Emmet Farrell was at the heart of Blackrock's slim victory, one that takes them nicely into the top third of the table.
If there is a more creative number 10 playing in the AIL at the moment, then Eddie O'Sullivan should be made aware of it.
It was Blackrock's first league win away from home and came about after St Mary's took the lead through Leinster wing John McWeeney. Blackrock drew level four minutes later when Farrell sent in Tom O'Donoghue , then converted and landed a penalty for 10-5 at the break.
But Conor McPhillips brought St Mary's back into it before Gary Brown touched down the first of his two. McWeeney also landed the second of his two tries, while Farrell, who also had a hand in Brown's second score, converted two penalties. Eoin Keane snapped up a late try but it was not quite enough and left St Mary's trailing 22-31 at the final whistle.
