Cork Constitution have overhauled Ballymena at the top of the All Ireland League after seeing off the challenge of Garryowen this afternoon.
With Ballymena losing at home to Blackrock College, Con sit on the summit of Division One five games into the fledgling season. Shannon's impressive 34-9 win over rock bottom Galwegians has moved them into second spot.
The foundations for Con's win at Temple Hill were laid in the opening exchanges with the home side scoring 14 unanswered points. Skipper Ultan O'Callaghan crossed for a try after just three minutes and Cian O'Mahony breached Garryowen's line again just before half-time. Both scores were converted by Pat McCarthy.
Con were unrelenting after the break and further tries from Stephen McCall and Brendan O'Connor secured a 24-8 win and an all-important bonus point. Con now have 20 points, one more than second-placed Shannon.
At Eaton Park, defending champions Ballymena suffered their first loss of the campaign when they were downed by a Blackrock side with title ambitions of their own.
The visitors conceded an early try but when Ross Molloy scampered over for a try on the stroke of half-time, Blackrock claimed a lead they fought desperately hard not to relinquish.
David Humphreys and Conor Kilroy exchanged penalties in the second period but despite some sustained Ballymena pressure, the Dublin side hung on for a 13-8 win and the points.
Elsewhere, Clontarf defeated Carlow 21-15, Lansdowne were beaten 28-32 by UCD, Buccaneers hammered Dolphin 47-16 and Dungannon notched their first win of the season with a narrow 21-18 win over Belfast Harlequins.