An intercept try from winger Alan Gaughan just before half-time was the decisive score as the Light Blues lifted the Trevor Barry Memorial Cup.

Cork Con were also beaten at home by Garryowen’s Limerick rivals Shannon recently, so this result will further dent their title ambitions.

They defended the clubhouse end in the opening half with a wind blowing diagonally across the pitch favouring neither team.

Garryowen out-half Declan Cusack watch his ninth minute penalty drift to the left of the posts. Scoring chances were few and far between and both sides were guilty of kicking away good possession.

This scrappy encounter looked set to be scoreless at the break until a mix-up in the Constitution rearguard saw Gaughan swoop on a pass near the home 22 and score the only try.

Fergal Lawlor added the conversion for a 7-0 advantage and the seven-point margin was still in place when Gerry Hurley and Lawlor swapped penalties early in the second half.

Lawlor, the visitors’ scrum half, fired over a 58th minute penalty to strengthen their hand and although Hurley closed the gap with two more successful kicks, Cork Con’s only reward was a losing bonus point.

Scorers:

Cork Constitution: Pens: Gerry Hurley 3

Garryowen: Try: Alan Gaughan; Con: Fergal Lawlor; Pens: Fergal Lawlor 2

HT: Cork Constitution 0 Garryowen 7