Corinthians have no rest from action this weekend with a visit to Ulster for the All Ireland Cup.
The Galway side must play division 1b outfit Dungannon in the refixed Bateman Cup semi-final on Saturday. Bruff were the 24 - 22 winners over UCD in the first semi-final played in January.
It is another tough outing for Corinthians who last weekend failed to halt unbeaten division two leaders UCD in the Ulster Bank League tie at Cloonacauneen, losing 27 - 16.
The home side started well with a Conor Murphy penalty, but by half time they found themselves 12 - 6 down. They were not helped when losing both centre Wayne Williams and hooker Joe Merrigan to injury before the visitors’ hooker David Doyle barged through from penalty kicked to touch. Corinthians were caught again when a mix up by the home side defence resulted in UCD flanker Danny Kenny hacking a loose ball and touching down in the corner for a 12 - 3 lead. Just before the break, however, Murphy converted a second penalty to close the gap.
Corinthians continued to attack again after the break, forcing three successive penalties from the visitors. Murphy slotted one over the bar, but immediately after the home side was penalised for killing the ball and Earls converted for the Belfield boys.
Man of the match for UCD, flanker Kenny, broke through for his third touchdown after winning the race to the line before centre and captain for UCD Andy McSharry ran in for their fourth for a comfortable 27 - 9 lead.
Corinthians never gave up, and with Tom Tolan and Dave Bardon to the fore and Denis Buckley driving forward, eventually second row Gary Warde claimed a try after captain Pat Cunningham had made the hard yards. Muphy added the extras.
Corinthians: D Classens, J Buckley, C Begley, W Williams (S Mullally ),F Gormley, C Murphy, M Dolan (M Roche ), D Buckley, (D Small ), J Merrigan (D Bardon ), T Toolan, G Warde, S Murphy, P Cunningham, S Gerrity, B McCann.
• A supporters’ bus for Dungannon leaves Corinthian Clubhouse at 8am for Dungannon on Saturday. Cost is €20.
