Corinthians had a poor day in the office on Saturday afternoon in Cloonacauneen Park against Shannon. The Limerick side were really up for the contest as they got stuck in from the kick off. Being bottom of the table did not matter a whit to the Munster outfit. With the wind at their backs they kept the pressure on the home side and were eventually awarded a penalty after Corinthians was pulled for killing the oval ball. Outhalf Tadhg Bennett converted same. The home side fought back after this set back as scrum half Mickey Murphy made an excellent break some minutes later. IRFU referee Andy Brace penalized the visitors for foul play producing a yellow card to flanker Aidan Butler. Corinthians go for the corner but are unable to capitalize on their good fortune as the couture Shannon side get out of jail. Some minutes later Bennett slotted another penalty to extend their lead after the home side were pulled for holding. With an half hour on the clock and excellent work by Corinthians flanker Donnchadh Phelan and vetern lock Gary Warde drove forward and from the resulting melee outhalf Conor Murphy claimed a brilliant touchdown. The Cloonacauneen outfit had an excellent opportunity of stretching their lead some minutes later but over playing the oval ball was their down fall. Just before the break the home side were caught on the hop as they relaxed thinking the referee would blow for an knock on but the quitter Shannon side kept driving forward as flanker and captain John Shine rambles in for a fine try. Bennett added the extras leaving them leading by thirteen points to seven as the referee blew for half time.
The Shannon side with only one point to show from their last three outings knuckled down to their task in the second half. They really came out with all guns blazing and after twelve minutes of play there number eight Lee Nicholas secured a mighty touchdown out wide. Their outhalf missed out on the extras. The visitors were now leading by eleven points as Corinthians head coach Pat Cunningham started to make some changes but alas it was all to no avail. The Munster outfit secured two more touchdowns by left winger Stephen Fitzgerald one of which was converted by Bennett. The home side were completely out played at this stage as the referee called a halt to proceedings. This is a wake up call for the Cloonacauneen outfit who have a three week break till their next outing away to Bucanneers at the end of the month.
Corinthian Team ; D Claasen.D Griffen.J Buckley.(capt).C Dilane.O Daly.C Murphy.M Murphy.A Bane.J Merrigan.Mark Byrne.A Broderick.G Warde.D Phelan.M Kelly.C Raftery. Replacements; A Glynn.C Hansberry.D Joyce.P Maher.C Evens.
