Corinthians 10

Cashel 9

By John Mulligan

Corinthians head to Parsonstown tomorrow to face Division 2A leaders Barnhall, and they do so in good health after this narrow win at home to Cashel last Saturday lifted them to third in the table.

With the season at the halfway stage and Corinthians currently third, this game – and the reverse fixture between the sides on Saturday January 10, could be an important marker as to their playoff ambitions.

Coming off a disappointing defeat to Shannon a week previously, Ambrose Conboy’s side knew that they would need a result against Cashel if they were to remain in contention, and what was witnessed at Corinthian Park was a performance of true character in difficult conditions.

It was never going to be free-flowing, but it was a credit to the club and groundstaff that the game was played at all. The heavy rain that had fallen in the days before had cast a doubt, but club members worked tirelessly to make sure the pitch was playable.

This was going to be a game of taking chances and the visitors had travelled knowing they also needed a result. Playing with the strong wind, Cashel opened the scoring with a Ben Twomey penalty, and the full-back would add two more before half time, one from inside his own half, as both teams battled the weather as well as each other.

So strong was the wind that at one point, an attempted clearance from Jack Conway went straight into the air and into touch behind the Corinthians out-half, but did not stop Corinthians from breaking through the cover and they went close on occasions.

One such phase of play saw Corinthians on their opponents’ line as the rain lashed down. Rory Lyons, Fiachna Barrett, and John Claffey were all stopped inches from the line. It was a temporary respite for Cashel as Corinthians dominated possession, but incredibly, no score was forthcoming in the opening 40 minutes.

With the now gale-force wind at their backs, Corinthians started to use the conditions well and were rewarded for their patience six minutes into the second-half. Following the breakdown of a Cashel move, the ball was kicked on by Joey Tierney with Harry Rogers following through.

Rogers’ second kick on came off the post and was pounced on by Tierney, with the scrum-half touching down under the posts. Conway kicked the conversion and added a penalty to give Corinthians the lead with 14 minutes of the second half played.

As darkness fell, the Corinthians defence was now the one tested. Cashel thought they were in for a try, only for Tierney to hold the ball up. Cashel pushed again but Corinthians were solid and disciplined, forcing penalties and mistakes as their opponents went all out in search of a score that would have won them the game.

Pictured: John Claffey, seen here in action against Banbridge earlier this season, was impressive in the win over Cashel at the weekend.