Corinthians returned to winning ways, claiming a 14-7 win over division 2A strugglers Clonakilty at Cloonacauneen on Saturday.
Played in heavy conditions, the home outfit were first to score when outhalf Eric Flynn posted a 10th minute penalty after the visitors illegally pulled down the Corinthian pack’s strong maul.
Corinthians should have scored again when the new halfback pairing of Mickey Murphy and Flynn created the break, but, in the slippery conditions, full back Darrin Classens spilled when he was about to touch down, and Corinthians held a slender 3 - 0 lead at the break.
With the elements at their back in the second half, Corinthians took over with their pack taking over in the maul, and from this hooker Kevin O’Byrne touched down in the corner. Clonakilty, however, never gave up and were rewarded after 60 minutes when No 8 Ger McCarty set up left winger Kieran Howlin for a try, which fullback Matt Kirby converted, closing the deficit to a single point.
It forced the home side to up their game and they stretched the lead to four when Wayne Williams added a penalty. The home side finished the scoring with a late penalty after Clonakilty were pinged for foul play.
Corinthians: D Classens, E Daly, F Gormley (capt ), W Williams, B Dixon (J Buckley ), E Flynn, M Murphy (M Byrne ), F Bealham, K O’Byrne, T Toolan (D Small ), G Warde, P Cunningham (J Merrigan ), S Gerrity, L Bertini.
