When the volunteers took to the pitch with brushes to remove the snow after yet another blizzard at Eaton Park on Saturday, it was hardly likely that eyes would turn to Ronan O'Gara for salvation against the elements.

Icy handling conditions, a mire under foot and with a stinging wind coming off the snow covered mountains, the north east presented conditions for a sound pack and unerring discipline.

It was the latter which let Cork Constitution down as the team proceeded to afford Ballymena full back Simon Mason the opportunity to kick six penalties from seven attempts, four in the first half.

Then when it came to the pivotal moment in the match mid-way through the second half the Ballymena nerve and defence held as Constitution battered at them on their line for a full 10 minutes and came away with nothing.

At that stage a try would have brought the match to 20-16 and invited the visitors back into contention. But when full back Anthony Horgan's desperate lunge was once again rebuffed inches short of the Ballymena line and the ball turned over, Mark Blair and Dion O'Cuinneagain made 40 metres and that was the end of Constitution's resurgence.

The Cork side have now only won two games from five starts not the kind of form that brought them success last season.

But those, including Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who had made the journey hoping that Cork Constitution out-half O'Gara would conjure up some of his old Munster form and turn in the sort of performance that would allow the Irish management breath a little easier for Ireland's game against Scotland next weekend, were to be disappointed.

What O'Sullivan saw was an eye catching Dion O'Cuinneagain romping around the field at number eight for Ballymena, no doubt irked by his current selectorial deal, and O'Gara struggling.

Unusually, O'Gara was seriously out of sorts. A few sliced kicks to touch were not the only signs but the Cork-man, who was heavily bandaged on his right knee, rarely sparked anything behind the scrum while his creative instincts were misjudged and out of beat. A little chip over the Ballymena defence in the first half was swallowed up and a cheeky drop out which he chased down himself gained nothing for Cork Constitution except brief panic and a turn over.

"That phase in the second half where they had us in the corner and we got out turned the match," said Ballymena coach Andre Bester afterwards. "I knew that if we got out of that, then their heads would drop." Bester then added "there is no doubt that Dion is the most outstanding number eight in Irish rugby. It is a good comeback for him after what I personally thought was a kick in the teeth by the Irish selectors."

The only try of the game came 10 minutes after the break, Ballymena opting to keep the ball in hand and sweep up the right channel using their forwards to gain ground. Given the state of the ball that in itself was commendable play. Finally out-half Simon Broughton took it on making good use of a gap which opened up. It took the score to 20-9 and ultimately confirmed that Constitution's wretched away record would continue.

Scoring sequence. 4 mins - R O'Gara pen 03; 8 mins - S Mason pen 3-3; 13 mins - S Mason pen 6-3; 27 mins - S Mason pen 9-3; 31 mins - S Mason pen 12-3. 42 mins - R O' Gara pen 12-6; 45 mins - S Mason pen 15-6; 47 mins R O'Gara pen 15-9; 52 mins - S Broughton try 209; 70 mins S Broughton drop gl. 23-9; 76 mins S Mason pen 26-9.

Ballymena: S Mason; J Wells, S Stewart, R Botha, J Park; S Broughton, M Edwards; N McClernan, A Stewart, C Millar, M Blair, G Longwell (capt), J Andrews, D Topping, D O'Cuinneagain. Replacements: A Graham for Andrews (31 mins). W McAllister for Millar (54 mins).

Cork Constitution: T Horgan; A Sherrard, C Mahony, B Walsh, D Dillon; R O'Gara, C Murphy; I Murray, F Sheahan, J O'Driscoll, K Murphy, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, U O'Callaghan, Gerry Murray. Replacements: J Fogarty for K Murphy 60 mins.

Referee: D Courtney (Len).