Corinthians have advanced to semi-final of the Energia League following a dramatic Division 2B win over Blackrock College by 31-24 in Corinthian Park on Saturday.
On a day captain Aaron Broderick celebrated his 100th game for Corinthians, it was a 80th minute try from Matthew Devine that secured the win.
For long periods it looked like Corinthians would win comfortably, but it proved otherwise, and had the scored stayed 24-24 at full time, Corinthians would have finished fifth, outside the semi-final places.
The home side had led 17-0 at the end of the first quarter with tries from Micheál O’Reilly, Evan Kenny and Josh Rowland, with Cathal Forde kicking a conversion. However, the visitors responded through Josh Dixon and Matthew Cosgrove, with Peter Quirke kicking the extras. Yet Corinthians, with a well-worked try finished by Eoin De Buitlear, went into the second half with a 12-point advantage.
College, however, replied through Dixon and a late try from Cosgrove to level the contest, and with Oran McNulty red carded, Corinthians were down a man as the clocked also ticked into the red.
Corinthians earned one last chance and made it count. From a penalty to touch and an eight-man maul, Devine dipped inside a tackle to score the winner, with Forde adding the extras and a place in the semi-finals.
Now the Galway outfit faces Greystones on Saturday week for a place in the final against either Blackrock College or Belfast Harlequins seven days later.
Corinthians: O McNulty, D O’Loughlin, J Rowland, C Forde, M O’Reilly, M McDermott, E Kenny, G Noone, E De Buitlear, R Dufficey, P Claffey, A Broderick, M Gavin, C Joyce, C Huxford. Replacements: A Nash, M Conneely, E Coyle, M Devine, D Keane.
