Corinthians, growing with confidence, have a real chance to continue their move up the division 2A Ulster Bank League table when they face Naas at Forenaughtson Saturday (2.30pm ).
Naas, with three wins, are just two points ahead of Corinthians in fourth position, after the Galway city club secured their third win on the trot when they overcame Skerries by 27-9 in Cloonacauneen Park on Saturday afternoon.
In a tighter contest than the scoreline suggests, the visitors had the first chance to post scores when left wing Derek Keane got through the Corinthian cover but was pulled down illegally. However outhalf James Faiva was wide with the penalty, and some minutes later, Corinthians, having lost lock Dave Hansberry to injury, crossed for the first try.
From a penalty to touch hooker Pat O'Toole nailed the throw and the pack did the rest, mauling over the try line, with referee Joy Neville awarding a penalty try. Outhalf James Proctor added the extras for an early 7-0 lead.
Faiva replied with a penalty, but Corinthians stretched their lead after Skerries flanker Evan Sherlock was yellow carded for foul play. Proctor added two penalties before Faiva converted his second penalty to close the gap to 13-6 at the break.
The visitors upped their game at the restart, and after Corinthian right wing Darren Griffin was yellow carded, Fiava reduced the deficit to four points.
However from the restart Corinthians centre Dave Panter scored a fine intercept try, which Proctor converted. Although Skerries never gave up, the Corinthian pack, led by captain Colin Raftery, finished with a try by flanker Sean Connolly from a driving maul, and fullback Simon Keller added the extras.
Corinthians: S Keller, D Griffin, J Buckley D Panter, D McDermott, J Proctor, G Flaherty, M Byrne, P O' Toole, A Glynn, D Hansberry, U Dillane, S Connolly, J Connolly C Raftery.(capt ). Replacements; A Bane A Walsh, D Phelan, P Noone, O Daly.
Galwegians
Galwegians head to Dublin on Saturday looking to arrest a run of two defeats in division 1A.
However the challenge does not get any easier with the Crowley Park outfit facing current table-toppers and last season's beaten finalists Clontarf.
Defence will be a key area for Galwegians to stop the Castle Avenue outfit running riot, and coaches Matt Brown and John Muldoon will be looking for a stronger set piece and improved discipline after last weekend's 35-3 loss to UCD at Crowley Park.
After a bright start to the season, with wins over Cork Con and Lansdowne, Galwegians have stuttered, falling into the relegation zone.
