Corinthians enjoyed a carnival atmosphere at Cloonacauneen on Saturday as their first XV completed the Ulster Bank League season with a comprehensive 53-10 win over Seapoint.
Having already gained promotion to the first division, Corinthians still harboured hopes of finishing on top of the division 2A table in the event of leaders Terenure slipping up against UCC. However the Dubliners grabbed the title with a 33-19 win over the Cork university, giving them a one-point cushion over Corinthians thanks to an extra losing bonus point.
Corinthians, led out by veteran Aurelien Casanova in his final match, wasted little time in opening their account when centre James Buckley burst over the try line for the first try. Minutes later, from a penalty kicked to touch, Aaron Conneely claimed the try from a forward surge.
The third came in the 16th minute when a loose pass by Seapoint scrumhalf Danny Ruddock was hacked down field by Cian Begley who won the race for the touchdown, with outhalf Mick O’Flynn adding the extras.
Seapoint did get on the scoresheet when flanker Michael Kerr crossed, and outhalf Peter Leydon added the extras and a penalty on the stroke of half time to reduce the arrears to 17 - 10.
However within three minutes of the restart Conneely had grabbed his second try before man of the match, hooker Kevin O’Byrne, scrambled over for the fifth. Bryan Dixon and Steve Bruce also added tries for Corinthians’ 10th win on the trot, capping a hugely successful season.
Corinthians: D Panter, D Classin, J Buckley, C Begley, E Daly, M O’Flynn, S Bruce, M Byrne, K O’Byrne, F Bealham, G Warde, D Phelan, A Casanova, S Gerity, A Conneely, C Rafferty, M Lee, C Rafferty, T Toolan, E Flynn, B Dixon.
