Cork Constitution perpetrated a little daylight robbery by stealing the points from Old Crescent at the very end of yesterday's encounter at Rosbrien. Crescent, who looked much the better side for most of the afternoon, led 10-5 with two minutes remaining, but conceded 12 points in the dying moments to leave themselves with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation.

Constitution coach Ray Coughlan admitted that he was "extremely relieved" to get out with two points from a hard-fought but largely scrappy match. His Old Crescent opposite number, Jed O'Dwyer, said: "We had all the chances we needed to win it, but we failed to take them. It was a game we should have won and won comfortably."

For the opening 20 minutes Constitution were easily the dominant side. They controlled the lineout through Roger Newell and Ken Murphy, while Brian O'Meara was always sharp at the base of the scrum.

But his half-back partner, Ronan O'Gara, missed a couple of penalty shots, and gradually the steam went out of Constitution.

But Crescent failed to take advantage of constant pressure and the only score they could manage before the break was a try, following a close-range line-out, by second row Diarmuid O'Malley.

Crescent went 10 points in front early in the second half with a beautiful try by Steve Hopkins, their Welsh out-half, who ran home from the half-way line after left wing Fergus Walsh had made a dramatic burst out of his 22.

Constitution, however, responded well and a little bit of magic enabled O'Gara to prise open the defence by chipping through, regaining possession and diving over.

Constitution's greater experience began to tell, but their nerves were taut until number eight Conor Kehilly forced his way over from a scrum with 78 minutes played. O'Gara converted with a fine kick from near touch.

When Crescent tried to open up in a last, desperate bid to save the day, Constitution centre John Kelly nipped in to intercept a pass and race away for a soft but decisive try.

Scoring sequence: 30 mins: D O'Malley try (0-5); 43 mins: S Hopkins try (0-10); 47 mins: R O'Gara try (5-10); 78 mins: C Kehilly try O'Gara conversion (12-10); 82 mins: J Kelly try (17-10).

Cork Constitution: M McLoughlin; A Horgan, J Kelly, A Byrne, Kenny Murphy; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; I Murray, F Sheehan, J O'Driscoll, R Newell, Ken Murphy, J Khan, J Murray, C Kehilly. Replacements: N Murray, D O'Callaghan and J Devane for Byrne, Ken Murphy and Khan (all 55 mins); P Soden for I Murray (68 mins).

Old Crescent: P McDonagh; K HiltonGreen, A O'Dwyer, L Doyle, F Walsh; S Hopkins, F Downes; P Madigan, P J McLoughlin, T Stapleton, D Kirby, D O'Malley, L Dineen, G DIneen, B Toland. Replacements: J Cullinane for Madigan (45 mins); D Bowles for Kirby (46 mins); D Brehon and P Turner for Walsh and Stapleton (68 mins).

Referee: S Buggy (Leinster).