Galway Corinthians RFC's early season form will be tested when they welcome division leaders Greystones to Corinthian Park on Saturday.
JP Cooney’s side, currently lying in third place, has notched four wins in this season's Energia All Ireland League division 2B from six games, so Saturday's fixture is a real opportunity to build more momentum.
Opponents Greystones have been outstanding all season. Although shocked by Sligo in Dr Hickey Park, they still top the table, but only four points now separate the top four sides in the division.
Greystones will certainly be stung by their one-point defeat to Sligo. Before that game they had scored an impressive 158 points in their five previous appearances and looked untouchable. However, Corinthians have been similarly impressive. Wins in their opening games over Ballina and Galwegians put them in a strong position before coming unstuck against Belfast Harlequins in Deramore Park and then Wanderers. But against Sligo in Hamilton Park three weeks ago, it was a transformed side that dominated from the start. Tries from Mark McDermott, Michael O’Reilly and Dan Trayers, along with excellent kicking from Connacht Academy outhalf Conor Dean, set the team up for a bonus point.
Corinthians then produced another bonus point win over Dungannon, with tries from Oran McNulty, Dan Trayers, Michael O’Reilly, Conor Burns and Eoin De Buitlear, propelling the Galway side into third place and within three of the leaders.
A win on Saturday could put Corinthians top of the table. Both teams have players capable of changing the game in an instant, and of all games on Saturday in the Energia League, this is most anticipated.
