Corinthians came out on top against Buccaneers in Dubarry Park on Friday night in a bruising encounter. The visitors started well putting early pressure on the home side. With only a few minutes on the clock they were awarded a penalty on Buccaneers ten metre line but out-half Conor Murphy’s attempt was just short of the posts. The Cloonacauneen outfit kept forcing the game as their pack stayed strong giving the youthful backs every opportunity to make ground. Corinthians first center Dave Panter missed out at getting in out wide but IRFU referee Barrie O’Connell pulled him for being in an offside position. Veteran full back Darrin Classen had another opportunity but the oval ball was judged to have gone forward on the oppositions five metre line. The game changed somewhat after twenty minutes of play as the referee yellow carded Murphy for interfering with play. Bucks outhalf Alan Gaughan was just wide with the convert. The home side had a great opportunity in the thirty fifth minute as their captain Alex Hayman knocked on the ball as he was going over the whitewash. But the home side had the last say in the first half as Corinthians loose head Mark Byrne received his walking papers for loitering in front of posts. Hayman converted same leaving the Athlone side leading by three points to nil at the break.
Buccaneers kept on the pressure after the break with the visitors still a man down. Lock Kolo Kiripati and flanker Luke Satchwell drove forward at every opportunity, but Corinthians back row were up to the task especially flanker Marc Kelly (U 20’s) and veteran hooker Joey Merrigan playing in the number six jersey. In the forty eight minute the visitors pack drove forward keeping the game tight working their way over the home sides five metre line. They continued mauling as lock Eoghan Masterson gathered the oval ball to touch down under the posts. Murphy added the extras, game on. Buccaneers started to panic at this stage with a bit of slapping going on. The referee had to have words with the home side but no yellow card. The ensuing penalty allowed the visitors into Bucks twenty two. From the resulting line-out substitute second row Colin Raftery claimed the oval ball releasing to his scrum half Mickey Murphy. The scrum half then linked up with his out half who in turn threw an excellent pass to hooker Pat O’Toole as he skated in for a mighty touch down. The outhalf added the extras.
With twenty minutes still on the clock the Midlanders threw their all at the Cloonacauneen outfit. They eventually broke through in the seventieth minute despite ferocious defending by the visitors. Substitute forward Martin Staunton was the man who claimed the touch down from a rolling maul. The captain Alex Hayman added the extras leaving only four points between the sides. With ten minutes left plus injury time it was all to play for. But you have to hand to head couch Pat Cunningham and his assistants Sean Duignan and Gavin Duffy, they have instilled a belief in their charges as they pounded the Buccaneers try line until the referee blew for full time. Final score Bucaneers 10 — Corinthians 14. The next outing is at home to neighbors Galwegians on Friday 7th Nov. Kick off 7.30pm. Venue; Cloonacauneen Park.
Corinthian Team; D Classens.D McDermott.D Corcoran.D Panter.D Griffin.C Murphy.M Murphy.M Byrne.P O Toole.A Bane.G Warde.U Dillane.J Merrigan.M Kelly.E Masterson. Replacements; C Hansberry.R Stanley.C Raftery.D Keogh.O Daly.
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