Cork Constitution remain on top of the AIB League after this latest decisive victory yesterday as a highly competent performance proved too much for Shannon and quietened the usually vociferous Thomond Park faithful,

Constitution were well worth their success and as the only unbeaten side in Division 1, they already look a sound bet for the knockout stages.

Against a Shannon pack deprived of four Irish internationals, Constitution were in command for all but the opening 20 minutes and also the closing stages, by which time the game was well out of Shannon's reach.

It was far from a great match, in spite of the relatively favourable weather conditions and was certainly a big disappointment for the large percentage of Shannon supporters in a crowd of close on 4,000 .

Hard though they tried, Shannon's useful but inexperienced pack had to play second fiddle for most of the afternoon and even John Langford found the combined efforts of Michael O'Driscoll and Donnacha O'Callaghan too much and he had a relatively subdued afternoon.

Shannon got off to a bright start and went into a 9-0 lead after 23 minutes thanks to a couple of penalties by outhalf and captain Andrew Thompson and a dropped goal by Maurice Lawler. However, there were signs from early on that Constitution were the more cohesive side, despite the absence of their international halfbacks Ronan O'Gara and Brien O'Meara.

Conor Mahony made a solid outhalf replacement for O'Gara, and it was his well-timed pass on 26 minutes which enabled Anthony Horgan to race over for a fine try, which Mahony converted. A dreadful Shannon mistake opened the way for Mahony to put the visitors ahead for the first time in the 34th minute and they remained 10-9 ahead at the interval.

Shortly after the restart, fullback Brian Walsh brought play to the Shannon line with a mighty penalty kick and although the first attack from the lineout was well withstood, hooker Frankie Sheehan gained possession from the ruck and forced his way over for a try, which Mahony converted.

Mahony then capitalised on further Constitution pressure to make it 20-9 and even though Shannon enjoyed more of the play in the closing 10 minutes, their best efforts met with no reward against a splendid Constitution defence, in which wingforwards Jerry Murray and Craig Taylor and centres John Kelly and Ronan O'Donovan were outstanding.

Scoring Sequence: 8 mins: A Thompson pen, 0-3; 13 mins: M Lawler drop goal, 0-6; 21 mins: Thompson pen, 0-9; 26 mins: A Horgan try, C Mahony con, 7-9; 34 mins: Mahony pen, 10-9; 48 mins: F Sheehan try, Mahony con, 17-9; 57 mins: Mahony pen, 20-9.

Cork Constitution: B Walsh; D Dillon, J Kelly, R O'Donovan, A Horgan; C Mahony, A O'Sullivan; I Murray, F Sheehan, J O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, C Taylor, J Murray, U O'Callaghan. Replacements: J Fogarty for J Murray (79 mins)

Shannon: J Lacey; J O'Neill, N McNamara, M Lawler, Jason Hayes; A Thompson, C O'Loughlin; G McNamara, F Roche, M Horan, J Langford, B Buckley, R Collins, C McMahon, D Quinlan. Replacements: F O'Loughlin for C O'Loughlin; T Hayes for Collins (63 mins both);

Referee: A Lewis (Leinster).