Corinthians 14     Clonakilty 7

Corinthians bounced back with a win after losing out to Terenure last weekend. Bottom of the table Clonakilty were the visitors to Cloonacauneen last Saturday a contest that was played in very heavy conditions. The Cloonacauneen outfit were first on the score board after ten minutes with a easy penalty in front of posts which was converted by outhalf Eric Flynn. This came from good play by the Corinthian pack which grinded their way into the opposing teams twenty two and were penalized for dragging down the ensuing maul. The side had another opportunity mid way through the half when the two new halfbacks Mickey Murphy and Flynn created a great break with full back Darrin Classens coming into the line but the slippery ball spilled when he was about to touch down. The score remained three points to nil at the break for the home side.

With the elements assisting the Cloonacauneen side in the second half and sustained pressure by the pack which mauled its way down the pitch. Scrumhalf Murphy eventually picked from the base of the maul to set up hooker Kevin O Byrne to touch down in the corner. Center Wayne Williams missed out on the extras from out wide. The west Cork outfit never gave up and were rewarded after twenty minutes into the second half after a great break by number eight Ger McCarty to set up left winger Kieran Howlin to get over the try line. Fullback Matt Kirby added the extras to leave only a point between the two sides. The home side upped their game again even after what looked like a serious injury to second row Pat Cunningham who had to helped off the pitch. With replacement Joey Merrigan coming into the fray they gained a foothold into the Clonakilty twenty two. From the ensuing lineout the visitors were penalized by IRFU referee Nigel Correll for an infringement. Williams converted same. Despite good work by the Clonakitlty halfbacks Mark Purcell and Joe Crowley they were unable to make any inroads into the Corinthian half. The home side finished off the scoring in the last few minutes with the back row driving forward especially Aurelien Casanova and Luke Bertini. Referee Correll again penalized the visitors for foul play. Williams converted to finish off the game leaving the home side winning by fourteen points to seven. This was a much improved performance from the previous week which should give coach Sean Duighan and captain Finn Gormley some joy.

Corinthian Team: 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.

Corinthians travelled to Dublin on Saturday to take on Terenure hoping to consolidate their position in Division two but the home side had another agenda.The first half was a very dour affair been played in perfect but chilly conditions. The contest itself showed that the Christmas break did not help the standard of rugby that was produced. The visitors started well with their forwards doing good work out of touch especially Pat Cunningham and Sean Geraghty .Corinthian right winger Brian Dickson had an opportunity midway through the half of getting in for a try but a great tackle into touch by Terenure’s fullback Conor Gildea saved the day for the home side. The Lakelands Road’s right winger Conor Kelly let an chance go a begging with the goal line at his mercy but for Corinthians winger Darren Classens to thump him into touch. IRFU Referee Jonathan Peake blew the half time whistle with both sides scoreless.

Terenure sub Niall Casey was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle early in the second half this seemed to give more impetus to the home side putting severe pressure on the visitors. After Corinthians were penalized for foul play Nure’s outhalf Dave McAllister kicked a great ball to bring play to the visitors five meter line. From the ensuing lineout the home side second row and captain Brian Moroney took a great ball and fed scrumhalf Mark O Neill who side stepped the Corinthian backrow to get in for a touch down. McAllister added the extras. The Cloonacauneen outfit still had plenty of time to level matters with Classens kicking a fine line ball bringing play into Terenure’s twenty five. Geraghty stole a great lineout for the visitors and with a quick ball out to the backline, but the final pass went forward with the line at their mercy. The home side broke down the pitch again in the final minutes and a turn over by the Dublin outfit saw centre Andy Wallace slice through the visitors defence to touch down wide of the posts McAllister added the extras. Referee Jonathan Peake then called time. Final score Terenure 14 –Corinthians Nil.

Next Fixture is at home to Clonakilty. Saturday Feb 4^th. Kick off 2.30pm.

Corinthian Team: F Bealham(J Burton).K O’Byrne.D Small(T Tolan).P Cunningham.G Ward.A Casanova.S Geraghty.L Bertini.N Murphy.C Murphy.B Dickson.O Daly.F Gormley.D Classens.D Palmer.

Despite missing a number of players away with other sport committments and a few injuries the U16 squad had a comprehensive victory over Westport on Sat 21st Jan. A fantastic team display with good ball provided by the forwards to a flying backline who scored most of the tries. So many players had great games and the quality of handling,rucking and support play was a pleasure to watch. The front row of Ciaran Murphy, Phelim McGovern and Sean McKeogh did tremendous work in tight supported by Stephen Flanagan and Jack Gavin in 2nd row. Robbie Kenny got the ball away at every opportunity to a backline that moved it wide at every opportunity and gave the opposition no space when they had possession. Another great team display by these U16s.

The under 16 league restarted after bad weather and Corinthians got a great win away in Monivea with 6 tries and one conversion to no score. Monivea were a big strong side and this was not an easy win, but with an organised defence which did not give an inch around the set pieces and breakdowns Corinthians moved the ball wide at every opportunity and scored all tries through their backs. Johannes O’Coistealbha (3tries), Paddy Griffin(2 tries) and Keelan Ward (1 try) with Mark Kenny adding a conversion. Another great team effort with some fantastic tackling by all particularly Philip Murphy,Stephen Flanagan and Michael O’Connell.

Corinthians  U13 (Black) travelled  to Westport  for  their  first  outing  of  2012  and  what  a  start to  a  new  year . Conditions  were  excellent  for  rugby , the  pitches  were  in  great  order  given  the  weather  conditions  recently . It  took  Corinthians  about   sixty  seconds  to  cross  for  the  first  of  9  tries  of  the  afternoon . Westport  were  considerably  better  than  the  scoreline  suggests  and  only  for  some  great  defending  by  Corinthians  things  would  have  been  different , substitute  full  back  Michael  Barry  making a  definite  try  saving  tackle  in  the  second  half . Outhalf  Jack  White (2 Cons.)  made  several  useful  breaks  as  did  Tom  Forde , who  was  rewarded  with  a  try . The  forwards  made  life  difficult  for  Westport  at  ruck  time  with  great  work  done  by  Jack  Nevin (2 Tries) , Maitias O’Griofa (2 Tries) , Dylan Tierney Martin , Declan  Gill(1 Con.) , Conor  Powderly , Alan  Duggan , Ruairi  Waldron  Caufield , Colm  Joyce. Liam  Melia  entered  the  fray  for  Ruairi  in  the  second  half , and  it  must  be  said  played  very  well . Cathal  Wall  was  unlucky  in  the  second  half  when  he  was  just  pushed  into  touch  inches  from  the  line . Ciaran  Weldon  had  a  cracking  game  at  scrumhalf,(2 tries). Max  Peyton  and  Barry  O’Shea  scored  one  each  and  worked  hard  during  the  game . Fionn  MacGabhann  made  some  good  runs  aswell  . All  in  all  a  great  example  of  a  team  playing  together .

Corinthians were hoping for some Christmas cheer and seeing the year out with a win against Bective Rangers but the visitors had other ideas.Both sides needed a win to keep in touch with the top half of the teams in their division. Bective decided to play against the elements in the first half and looked like that they would be blown away from the pressure of the Corinthian pack. The home side had two opportunities in the first quarter to touch down but knocked on in their final play. They finally got on the score board after seventeen minutes when the Dublin 4 front row were penalized for collapsing. Centre Conor Murphy converted for the home side. The visitors pack seemed to settle better in the second quarter with their flankers David Daly and Joe Moran driving forward at every opportunity and ably assisted by scrum half Brad Allam. On the half hour the home side had another opportunity to stretch their lead after scrum half Kieran Marmion made a great break to get the ball out wide for winger Darrin Classen to take on but his final pass was off target another opportunity gone a begging. Just before the break the Cloonacauneen outfit drove forward again with veteran second row Pat Cunningham to the fore but unfortunately the ball was again knocked on leaving Corinthians leading by three point to nil at half time.

Referee Eddie Hogan-O’Connell started the second half with the conditions really deteriorating and a three point lead for the home side did not look too good. In fairness the Corinthian pack stayed strong and held the visitors scoreless for twenty minutes of the second half but eventually the Corinthian front row were penalized for barging in front of posts. Bective’s out half Geroid O’Grady slotted the penalty to make it three all. The Donnybrook outfit committed the same mistakes as the home side they kept rushing there play. But eventually IRFU referee O’Connell awarded a penalty to the visitors on Corinthians ten meter line after an infringement. Galway man fullback Cormac(Ginger) O’Beirne slotted same for Bective to lead by three points. In the final minutes of the contest Corinthians with there never say die attitude kept plugging away to work their way up to the oppositions try line but all to no avail as the visitors cleared down field for the referee to blow the final whistle. Final score Corinthians 3—– Bective Rangers 6.

Corinthians next outing is away to Galwegians in the Connacht Senior Cup semi final.Venue Glenina; Kick off 1.30, Sat 17^th

Corinthian Team:D Panter,D Classen,F Gormley(capt),C Murphy,M Murphy,M O’Flynn,K Marmion,D Small,K O Byrne,T Toolan,G Warde,P Cunningham,J Merrigan,S Gerrity,A Casanova,

Corinthians travelled to Kirwan Park on Saturday to take on Division 2A leaders De La Salle Palmerstown.The visitors got off to a fine start with outhalf Conor Murphy converting a penalty after the home side were penalized for foul play.The Cloonacauneen oufit were again on the score board after fifteen minutes with good work by their pack especially Joey Merrigan and Gary Ward and getting the ball out wide for Irealand U19 fullback Dave Panter to get over in the corner.Murphy was unable to add the extras from the touchline leaving the visitors leading by eight points to nil.With the home side playing against the wind they knuckled down to their task and won a great ball against the head to set set up a quick ball for lock Clive Ross to pick and scramble over for a touch down, outhalf Phil Debarra added the extras.Corinthians went on the attack immediately with their pack driving forward which allowed scrumhalf Kieran Marmion to get good ball out to fullback Panter to touch down for his second try.Just before the break the Palmerstown outfit were awarded a penalty that Debarra converted.This left DLSP trailing by ten points to thirteen as IRFU referee Mark Kermin blew the half time whistle.

The second half was a very close affair with both packs having a right go at each other.Eventually it was the home side that got the break grubbing the ball up the pitch for there scrumhalf Ian Burke to scramble over for a try. Debarra again added the extras.Corinthians were now four points adrift with time running out and a player in the sinbin.Even so they dominated to the final whistle as the pack were on the De La Salle side try line but knocked for the touch down as the referee blew up for the final play of the afternoon.Final score DLSP 17 —-Corinthians 15.

Corinthians next outing is at home to Bective Rangers on Sat 10^th Dec.Kick off 18.30pm

Corinthian Team: D Plater.D Classen.F Gormley(capt).W Williams.B Dixon.C Murphy.K Marmion.F Bealham.K O Byrne.T Toolan.G Warde.P Cunningham.J Merrigan.S Gerrity.A Cassanova.

The students  started to assert themselves in the second half and they were on the score board after four minutes when outhalf James McKinney slotted a fine penalty.From the kick off Queens were on the attack again with McKinney going for a drop goal which was just wide.It looked as if it was only a matter of time for the flood gates to open for the visitors but Corinthian coach Sean Duignan made some quick changes with Joey Merrigan moving from the backrow to the hooking position and Tom Toolan coming in as loose head. This gave the home side some momentum allowing them to grind there way up the pitch with sub scrumhalf Kieran Marmion getting good ball.After mauling there way into the Queens twenty five Marmion got his back line moving with a quick ball out to Murphy who found center captain Finn Gormley on his shoulder.Gormely drove forward with winger Darin Classen coming in to assist and gaining the touch down in the corner.The Belfast outfit  upped there game at this stage and gained a foothold in the Corinthian half with the home side conceding a penalty in front of posts McKinney slotted same. From the drop off the students gained possession again and worked their way down to the Cloonacauneen outfits five meter line from the ensuing ruck Queens number eight Tom Patton scrambled over to touch down in the corner McKinney missed the convert.With ten minutes still on the clock the home side defended like demons until Kierans blew the final whistle.This was a fine scalp for the home side winning by seventeen points to eleven.There next outing is away to D.S.L.P. on December 3^rd Kick off 2.30pm.Venue Kirwan Park.

Corinthian Team:D Panter.D Claasen.F Gormally.W Williams.B Dixon.C Murpphy.M Murphy(K Marmion).F Bealham.K O Byrne.D Small.(T Toolan).G Warde.P Cunningham(S Gerrity).J Merrigan.A Conneely.A Casanova.