Cork Con triumph over Ballymena

Ballymena 12 Cork Constitution 22, Eaton Park

Beleaguered Ballymena could do little to deny three-try Cork Constitution a deserved 22-12 win at a rain-lashed Eaton Park.

The Braidmen slumped to their third straight loss as Con's Conor Quaid, Shane O'Connor and Richard Lane ran in tries.

Fly-half Quaid started the ball rolling on 13 minutes when he intercepted a midfield pass to run in at the posts.

Four Dirkie Strydom penalties either side of half-time pushed the home side into a 12-7 lead, but a fitter Con side had too much in reserve.

Substitute Neil Whitworth dinked over a penalty to reduce the deficit for Con, then O'Connor was mauled over on 71 minutes.

The match-winning try came four minutes later when full-back Lane coasted over with Whitworth converting.