UCD stay top of Division 20

Ulster Bank League Div 2 leaders UCD arrived in Cloonacauneen to play a big running game but Corinthians had other idies.The home side were first on the score board with a fine penalty by outhalf Conor Murphy after some good play by flanker Sean Gerrity who turned over a great ball.From the kick off UCD  attacked again but the home side held firm especially the back line hitting good tackles  causing the visitors to knock forward on a few occasions.In the scrums Corinthians were driving the UCD on to there back foot.Tragedy struck in the twenty minute for the Cloonacauneen outfit after a pick up by number eight  Barry McCann releasing center Wayne Williams to take the ball on the loop but he came down heavely on the pitch trying to get through the visitors defence.This incident held up play for ten minutes but thankfully Williams recovered fully after he was stretchered off and being replaced by Shane Mullally.Again Corinthians were struck by bad luck as hooker Jeoy Merrigan had to retire and was replaced by Dave Bardon.

UCD were awarded a penalty at this stage and ther outhalf Niall Earls went for the corner from the resulting lineout and a good take by UCD number six Danny Kenny came around the front to release hooker David Doyle to crash over for the touch down Earls missed the extras leaving the score at five points to three for the visitors.Corinthians were caught again before the break after a mix up by the home side defence with UCD flanker Danny Kenny kicking on a loose ball and  touching down in the corner Earls converted same.In the last seconds of the half the home team went on the the attack again with fullback Darren Classens and winger James Buckley combining well together but were unable to finish the run off but got a penalty out of the situation which Murphy converted leaving the score at halftime twelve points to six for the visitors.

After the break Corinthians again went on the attack and after referee Ger English penalized the visitors three times for infringing but no yellow cards eventually Murphy sloted one over the bar but immediately after Mullally was penalized for killing the ball and Earls coverted for the Belfield boys.Man of the match for UCD flanker Kenny got in for his third touchdown after winning the race to the line.Some minutes later center and captain for UCD Andy McSharry ran in for there forth after slack cover in the home side back line Earls converted the extras leaving the score after seventy five minutes Corinthians nine UCD twenty seven.Corinthians who are away to Dungannon in AIL CUP semifinal next Saturday never gave up the chase with TomTolan and Dave Bardon to the fore and Denis Buckley driving forward at every opportunity.Eventually the Cloonacauneen outfit got in under the post after captain Pat Cunningham took a great take at the back of the lineout and made the hard meters towards the line and slipping the ball to second row Gary Warde to dive over again Muphy added the extras.After the restart Corinthians second row Seamus Murphy fielded a great ball and drove forward again chasing for there bonus point but the clock ran out with final whistle been blowed by IRFU ref Ger English.Final score Corinthians 16—-UCD 27.

Next outing for Corinthians is away to Dungannon in the semi final of the AIL CUP. Bus organised by supporters club ring same.

Corinthian Team;D Classens.J Buckley.C Begley.W Williams(S Mullally)F Gormley.C Murphy.M Dolan(M Roche)D Buckley.(D Small)J Merrigan(D Bardon)T Toolan.G Warde.S Murphy.P Cunningham.S Gerrity.B McCann.