Corinthians travelled with trepidation to Clonakilty last Saturday after their home loss the previous week. The visitors had the assistance of a gale blowing down the pitch in the first half and were on the score board after two minutes, when out half Shane Mullally converted a penalty when Clonakilty were penalised for killing the ball. Corinthians got in for their first try after ten minutes, when Captain Pat Cunningham set up a quick ruck for scrum half Mark Dolan to get the ball out wide, with fullback Darrin Classens coming in to receive the final pass to touchdown. The home side then continued to defend well for the rest of the first half, with props Tom Ryan (capt) and Ryan Purcell holding firm, but the Cloonacauneen outfit finished out the half with their tight head Denis Buckley getting in for the touchdown near the posts after scrumhalf Dolan got out a quick ball to Shane Mullally who converted same, leaving the visitors leading by fifteen points to nil at the break.
This score did not prove to be enough for the visitors, even with the home side with having a strong wind behind them for the second half and that with Clonakilty having to have their loose head Purcell to be replaced by Stephen Cotter the visitors continued to clock up scores. This change gave the Corinthian pack more impetuous with Joey Merrigan getting a strike against the head, allowing scrumhalf Dolan to make a clean break with flanker Liam Carpenter on his shoulder receiving the pass who touched down under the posts for a try that was duly converted by Mullally. Clonakilty got on the score board after fifty five minutes when centre Kieran Howlin got in for the touchdown after sloppy defence by the visitors back line lead to a try that was converted by out half Dave Paurini. In the seventh minute of the second half, the Clonakilty flanker Alfie Harte was sin binned by referee Stuart Douglas resulting in the visitors opting for a scrum which lead to a great pick by lock Rory Connellan, supported by centre Wayne Williams coming in to collect and touching down under the posts which was again converted by Mullally. Corinthians completed their tally after the resulting drop-off was collected by Merrigan, who made great ground and off loaded to flanker Aaron Connelly who touched down with out half Mullally again converting. The home side got in for a touchdown at the death leaving the final score Clonakilty 14 to Corinthian’s 36. Corinthians coach Sean Duignan went home happy with five points in the bag as did President Mick Berry who received a gift basket of Clonakilty Pudding from the home team sponsors.
Corinthian Team: D Classens, F Gormley, J Buckley, W Williams, K Dolan(H Griffen),S Mullally, M Dolan, D Buckley, J Merrigan, T Toolan(D Small),G Ward, P Cunningham, L Carpenter(S Gerrity), A Connelly, R Connellan.
Corinthians next outing will be at home to Bucaneers in the semi final of the Senior Cup at 2.30 on Saturday 16th Oct.
