Corinthians looking to end eight year wait for Cup glory

By John Mulligan

Galway Corinthians RFC will bid to win the Connacht Senior Cup for the first time since 2011 – and a record-equalling 34th time in total – when they face Sligo RFC at the Sportsground on Sunday in this year’s final (1.30pm) in a repeat of the 2017/18 decider.

This final has all the attributes of being a classic, with both teams having conflicting fortunes on the pitch in the league. However, it is said that the Cup is a great leveller and Corinthians need not to look too far to the 2018 final, which Sligo won 27-25 on their home patch in Strandhill.

The Senior Cup has the rather unique situation of seeing two finals in the one calendar year. Back in January, Corinthians were denied as Buccaneers won 16-14 following a contentious penalty call by the referee leading to Kieran Joyce kicking the winning points.

The irony not lost on some as the Connacht academy player had been playing with Corinthians the season previously. However, when the sides met in the semi-final of this season’s competition on October 24, Corinthians exacted revenge with an impressive 32-23 win thanks to tries from Seosamh McDonagh (2), Patrick Grehan and Simon Keller.

The sides have met already in both the Connacht and All-Ireland Leagues. When the teams met in the Connacht Senior League in September, Sligo had the upper hand winning 24-7 in Corinthian Park and topped the table giving them a straight semi-final against Galwegians.

That game took place in Crowley Park with the visitors winning 31-16 thanks to tries coming from Ryan Feehily, Philip Carter, Cal Goddard and Mark Butler, with Euan Brown kicking the extras.

Corinthians gained revenge for that defeat when they met in the Energia League in Hamilton Park on November 9, with the Galway side winning 28-17. Tries from Mark McDermott, Michael O’Reilly, Dan Trayers and Craig Hansberry gave Corinthians an important bonus point but it must be said that Sligo never gave up and scored three of their own through Matt Davey (2), from Cal Goddard.

Both teams like to play expansive rugby and it is expected that there will be scores in this one. With Corinthians looking to win their first Senior Cup since 2011 when they beat Galwegians, they will be looking to the likes of Conor Hayes at full-back with Mark McDermott and Cathal Evans in the centre; while on the wings, Michael O’Reilly and Oran McNulty will cause all sorts of problems to the Sligo back line.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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