Cork Constitution...18 Co Carlow...6: Cork Constitution, who lie in second place in division one of the league as expected beat relegation- threatened Co Carlow in an entertaining first meeting between these teams at the Oak Park grounds in Carlow on Saturday.

The visitors, without Ronan O'Gara, Frankie Sheahan and Anthony Horgan, laid siege to the Carlow try line for almost the entire opening 20 minutes.

In that time they scored all 18 points, tries from winger John Kelly and fullback Derek Dillon, supplemented by a dropped goal conversion and penalty from outhalf Conor Mahony.

But once Co Carlow's Andy Melville was introduced to the action the home side gained in confidence and belief.

While Cork Constitution will continue in their quest to win the league Carlow will concentrate their efforts on surviving, having UCD away and Ballymena at home to complete their league programme.

CORK CONSTITUTION: D Dillon; J Kelly, C Mahony, R O'Donovan, A Sherard; C Mahony, B O'Meara; I Murray, J Fogarty, J O'Driscoll, J O Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, J Williams, J Murray, U O'Callaghan. Replacements: R Kenneally for O'Donovan (45 mins); R McGrath for J O'Driscoll (68 mins); K DIllon (76 mins).

CO CARLOW: B Murphy; M Buckley, M Spiller, R Armstrong, M Waterhouse; P Jones, R Jones; P Brennan, A Galavan, L Hannon, L O'Byrne, P Holden, W Whitten, J Waddock, B Baggott. Replacements: A Melville for Whitton. (40 mins); K Corrigan for Hannon (65 mins); C Gee for Galavan (79 mins).

Referee: T Tyndall (Leinster).