Two tries either side of halftime proved the decisive factor in St Mary's impressive win over Cork Constitution at Templeville Road on Saturday. Not alone did St Mary's pick up two badly needed league points, their first of the new year, they finally and perhaps more importantly delivered a performance commensurate to the team's ability.

While coach Steve Hennessy was able to single out a number of key players, he was also quick to point to the importance of the favourable conditions. "Victor Costello and John McWeeney delivered, they gave us a target going forward. The ball retention was fantastic. We won because of a very good second half performance. But the key for us was the firm ground and the dry ball," he said.

Hennessy admitted to being concerned in the early stages as a hungrier Cork Con raced into an 8-0 lead thanks to a penalty by O'Gara and a try by Brian O'Meara. At that stage a hesitant Mary's looked on their way to a third straight defeat.

However, two minutes after O'Meara's try and very much against the run of play, St Mary's gave a glimpse of what they were capable of. Cork Con lost possession in midfield and the ball was flashed out wide to left wing McWeeney, who outpaced the Con cover with some ease before touching down for a fine try.

Cork Con, however, continued to look the more cohesive outfit and it was no great surprise when they went further ahead thanks to a try by flanker Jerry Murray on the half hour.

That score marked the high point of their afternoon's work as St Mary's with Costello to the fore began to get a grip on proceedings.

Cork Con, whose captain Ultan O'Callaghan was a late injury withdrawal, had no answer to Costello's power.

After a bout of sustained pressure in the run up to half-time, right wing Paddy Lane, in for the injured Dennis Hickie, dived over for a try, converted by Fergal Campion, to cut the visitors lead to 15-14.

St Mary's maintained the momentum in the second half and when prop Peter Coyle crashed over for their third try inside two minutes the home side were on their way. McWeeney shrugged off O'Meara's tackle en route to his second try in the 57th minute and five minutes later fullback Kevin Nowlan put plenty of daylight between the team's when he cut through Con's scattered defence for his side's fifth. O'Meara, Con's best performer on the day, got over for a late consolation score two minutes from time.