Terenure Prove To Be a Handul For The Hinch Firsts
AIL Div 1,
Final Score: Ballynahinch 12 Terenure 52.
After last week’s brilliant win in Cork, one of the Con coaches observed that if a team is anything less than 100% on their game in this league then they will be found out writes James Kirk.
Ballynahinch fell into that category on Saturday when a less than accurate performance in attack and defence was ruthlessly exploited.
Adam Craig picked an almost identical team, the only change being John Dickson starting at prop. However the unexpected appearance of rising Leinster duo Fintan Gunne and Caspar Gabriel at nine and ten on the Terenure teamsheet was crucial and they duly ran the show.
Gabriel was outstanding and at just twenty years old has surely got a big future in the game.
Ballynahinch were chasing the game from the outset, conceding two early tries to trail by twelve points but they steadied the ship and a maul try from Tom McCallister gave them a foothold which should have been more as they laid siege to the Terenure line only to be denied by a combination of close refereeing calls, stout defence and their own inaccuracy.
Frustrated, a yellow card for a late hit on Gabriel just before the break proved crucial and the Dublin side pulled away after the restart, scoring four tries in fifteen minutes to put the game to bed.
To their credit the home side battled back to dominate long periods of the final quarter but could not find the cutting edge shown so far this season and Terenure scored two late tries to give the scoreboard a lopsided look despite home backrower Jon Rodgers’ first AIL try.
The Bateman Cup semi-final versus Sligo at Ballymacarn Park this weekend gives Ballynahinch a chance to redeem themselves before a long trip to bottom side Nenagh Ormond the following week.
Two wins would do much to boost morale after such a disappointing defeat and brace the squad for a tough run of fixtures prior to the Christmas break with trips to Lansdowne and Clontarf either side of a home fixture against league leaders St.Mary’s.
Ballynahinch 1-20: John Dickson Jnr, Claytan Milligan (Capt), Tom McAllister, Declan Horrox, Ryan Connolly, Zack McCall, Peter Heasley, Bradley Luney, Chris Gibson, Paul Kerr, Ethan Graham, Mark Best, Matthew Booth, Aaron Sexton, Conor Rankin, Josh Hanlon, Matthew Burke, Stephen Campbell, Jon Rodgers, Ruairi Meharg, Adam Bennett.
***
Ballynahinch RFC Round-up 1 11 2025
Club Notes
Davy Harris saw his second XV cement their position at the top of the league with a 66-0 annihilation of Banbridge. There are bigger battles to come with second place Ballymena up next but they continue to set the standard at second XV level.
It was a tough afternoon for the thirds versus a strong Portadown seconds team but a Forster Cup victory at Ards for the fourths and a big win for the fifths left the club in credit.
All boys youth matches fell foul of the weather but there were encouraging performances for the fledgling youth girls teams despite defeat on Sunday.
The next AIL home fixture is against St.Mary’s on 6th December. Pre-match lunch is SOLD OUT. To book your place at the pre match lunches in 2026 contact James Kirk on 07966143184.
Youth Training continues on Mondays at 7pm for boys and Wednesdays at 7pm for girls. All players U12/U14/U16/U18 welcome and no experience necessary. Contact Johnny Cullen for details on 07595651901.
Mini rugby continues on Saturday mornings from 9.30-11am. Boys and girls from P1 – Yr8 are all welcome, with training run for each age group in their school year. Mini rugby news is posted weekly on the club Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ballynahinchrfcofficial.
For more details contact Kenny Morton – Mini Convenor on 07813157614 or email [email protected].
Results 1 11 2025
Ballynahinch 12 Terenure College 52 (AIL Division 1A)
Bambridge 2 0 Ballynahinch 2 66 (2nd XV League)
Ballynahinch 3 5 Portadown 2 57 (Provincial Premier 1)
Ards 2 11 Ballynahinch 4 20 (Forster Cup)
Banbridge 5 12 Ballynahinch 5 34 (Regional South).
