Corinthians ran riot over visitors De La Salle Palmerston in Cloonacauneen Park on Saturday to notch their second All Ireland League victory, pushing them into a top four position.
Although the contest started tamely enough, with Corinthians’ outhalf Shane Mullally converting for the home side and scrumhalf Conor Hickey responding for De La Salle, the flood gates then opened.
Corinthians ran in for five tries before the break - the first scored by flanker Rory Connellan after a turnover.
Good handling between fullback Darin Classen and winger Finn Gormly saw centre Eoin Griffin finish off for the second, while the third came from a great take in the front of the lineout with excellent throwing by hooker Joey Merrigan. Again Griffin made good ground before finding the supporting Classen who touched down.
Scrumhalf Mark Dolan got in for the fourth after a great line kick by Classen, and before the break flanker Connellan scampered over after two players were sinbinned by Ulster referee Richard Kerr. Mullally converted four of the tries to give Corinthians a 36 - 3 half time lead.
Winger James Buckley got in for two tries after the break with the home side’s backs running great lines. As the home side took their foot off the pedal, DLSP did cross the whitewash twice. But Griffin finished off the scoring for the home side after good handling by the front three, giving Corinthians a huge boost ahead of their visit to Queen’s next Saturday.
Corinthians: D Classen, J Buckley, E Griffin,W Williams, F Gormley, S Mullally (C Murphy ), M Dolan, D Buckley (T Toolan ), J Merrigan, D Small, G Ward, P Cunningham, R Connellan, L Carpenter, M McComish.
