The home side gave debuts to Halifax Under 21s scrum half Martyn Silcox and former Widnes and Huddersfield forward Sam Barlow. Silcox provided fine distribution and excellent kicking while Barlow gave a blockbusting performance.
The game began with both sides making uncharacteristic errors. The visitors then drew first blood on 12 minutes, Kevin Doyle crossing after quick hands created the overlap.
A brief melee saw Jake McCarthy and Lee Mulhern receive their marching orders.
The fired up hosts opened their account five minutes later as Barlow crashed over despite the attention of several defenders.
Five minutes later Drighlington regained the lead as Chris Dyson dived over on the left and the visitors held on for a 8-4 interval lead as Will Midgley and Richard Mudd were denied.
Two minutes after the restart Irish drew level with a stunning solo effort from young Darren Williams, who broke a tackle deep in his own half and outstripped the cover. The visitors replied moments later, Alex Bedford sending Doyle over for his second try.
Approaching the hour mark the Irish clicked into gear. Barlow released Darren Williams and he found his brother Dean who showed a clean pair of heels to the cover. Silcox converted before repeating the feat two minutes later after his towering bomb had evaded the Drighlington winger and the alert Michael Reed combined with Chris Moran to send Chris Norman haring over.
With 10 minutes remaining Drighlington grabbed a lifeline as Bedford sneaked over out wide.
When Silcox kicked a penalty three minutes from time things were looking good for Irish at 22-16. However, the visitors laid siege to the Irish line and despite heroic defence from Alex Muff, Paul O'Byrne and Dave Copping, slick passing led to Dyson storming over to leave Michael Sanderson a difficult kick. The scrum half had missed all four earlier conversions but stroked the ball between the uprights.

Queensbury A 12 - Hollinwood 27
(Division Four)'BURY hosted Oldham side Hollinwood in only their second game of the season and were made to pay for several missed second half chances.
A youthful 'Bury side started strongly but Hollinwood resisted the onslaught and then opened up a 12 point lead.
'Bury hit back wth two tries by veteran Neil Hobson, converted by Stuart Bennett, to level the scores.
However, the hosts were unable to add to their tally in the second half and Hollinwood ran out comfortable winners.
New boys Luke Hamby and Glen Warne played well on their debuts for 'Bury.

Stainland Stags 18 - Littleborough 38
(Division Four)
THE loss of stand off Shaun Whiteley through injury was the turning point as a bigger and more experienced Littleborough side got the upper hand in the second half.
Stainland's youngsters soon conceded two unconverted tries but a Sam Oddy penalty was followed by a try from Ben Manning, who outpaced the defence up the slope following Russ Holroyd's quick tap. Oddy's touchline kick made it 8-8.
Strong running from Paul Davies, Phil Sweeney and Joe Norcliffe should have resulted in a try for Dan Williams but a pass was forward.
Stainland had to defend for long periods and although tackles from Nathan Swarbrick, Sam Moorhouse and Manning saved them initially, the pressure told and the visitors scored two converted tries in the last four minutes of the half.
Strong running from man of the match Williams and Davies created the position for player coach Russ Holroyd to score near the posts and Oddy's kick made it 14-20.
Will Jordan and Mark Doughty ran strongly and Holroyd chipped to the corner for Oddy to win the race to touch down.
However, Whiteley went off and Littleborough scored another 18 points without reply.

Elland A 62 - Meltham AB 0
(Division Five)
AN Elland side with an average age of 20 gave a superb performance to gain a first win of the season.
The defence was rock solid in an even first half and tries for Reece Webb, Ethan Ingham and Jacob Fairbank (two) plus a conversion from Danny Murgatroyd gave them an 18-0 advantage.
Tries came fast and furious after the break, the first by man of the match Jacob Fairbank.
A good break by Ethan Ingham enabled Joe Beverley to score under the posts and further tries from Ingham, Dean Curtis, Jamie Barraclough, Joe Beverley, Jack Fairbank and two more for Jacob Fairbank plus four conversions saw Elland run out easy winners.