Corinthians finished the season in fine style against Thomond in Fitzgerald Park on Saturday with a comfortable 27 - 10 victory.
The Galway side finished the division two league in a worthy sixth place - just three points behind Bective Rangers in fifth who now play Bruff in a play-off for division 1B.
Corinthians got off to a flyer when international u-21 flanker Aaron Conneely scored under the post within five minutes after scrumhalf Mark Dolan took a quick tap and fed Conneely out wide. Outhalf Conor Murphy added the extras before Thomond created an opportunity to reply, but winger Craig Airey was wide with his penalty attempt.
Although No 8 Mark Rowly and lock Ben Rowly were to the fore for the home side, super turnover from Corinthians prop Denis Buckley resulted in Murphy grabbing the second try, which he converted. And when Dolan won a cheeky ball at the front of the lineout, Murphy fed centreWayne Williams who crossed out wide for the third to give them a comfortable lead.
The home side opened their scoring before the interval with a drop goal from outhalf Diarmuid Waters, but from the kick-off Thomond were penalised for offside and Murphy added the three points for a 22 - 3 half-time lead.
A sinbinning to captain Pat Cunningham gave encouragment to the home side, and utilising their forward power, lock Dave Foley dived over for a try which Airey converted, but that was all they could muster as Corinthians bagged the final try of the day when Conneely’s 30m break was finished off by Murphy.
Corinthians: D Classens, J Buckley, C Begley, W Williams, F Gormley, C Murphy, M Dolan (M Roche ), B McCann, (S Murphy ), S Gerrity, A Conneely, P Cunningham, G Ward, D Small, (T Tolan ), J Merrigan, (D Bardon ), D Buckley.
