MU Barnhall 14

Corinthians 31

Corinthians have gone clear at the top of Division 2A of the AIL following what turned out to be a comfortable 17-point win over Barnhall at Parsonstown on Saturday afternoon.

Despite trailing by six points after just nine minutes, Corinthians shook off the travel lag to lead comfortably at half-time and pushed on to win and it sets the team up for the visit of third-placed Cashel to Cloonacauneen this Saturday.

Saturday’s win makes Corinthians the only team across the five divisions of the AIL to have a 100% record with six wins from their opening six games, but they had to overcome a sluggish start to ensure that status.

Two penalties from the boot of Adam Chester ha the home side 6-0 ahead after just nine minutes, but Corinthians hit back towards the end of the first quarter with John Claffey scoring a try. The move began with a lineout on the opposite side of the field and featured breaks from James Nicholson and John Devine before a brilliant offload from Sean Naughton found the flanker to touch down.

A third Barnhall penalty, this one landed by James Gorham, gave Barnhall a four point advantage as half-time approached but the visitors would inflict a telling blow before Oisin Quinn blew for the oranges.

Naughton collected the ball behind his own 22’ and chipped forward to collect his own kick as Barnhall were caught napping, with the out-half running on and scoring under the Barnhall posts. He added the conversion to give Corinthians a 12-9 lead at the break.

That scored boosted Corinthians and seemed to deflate Barnhall in equal measure as the visitors ran riot in the second-half. Rory Glynn scored try number three following Billy Bohan’s break through the centre. The prop making the guts of 40 metres before passing to Mark Boyle who in turn fed his second-row partner to score. Naughton’s conversion from a difficult angle was brilliantly taken.

Pictured: Mark Boyle set-up second-row partner Rory Glynn for Corinthians’ third try.