Hinch Firsts bounce back with a good win over Nenagh Ormond
AIL Division 1,
Venue: Nenagh Ormond, on 15 11 25,
Final Score: Nenagh 3 Ballynahinch 24.
Newly promoted Nenagh Ormond provided a potential banana skin for Adam Craig and his Ballynahinch side as they continue to bounce back from their heavy home defeat to Terenure and given the tough run of fixtures ahead five points was the target writes James Kirk.
Jon Rodgers made his first AIL start in the back row while fellow young gun Ryan Connolly maintained his place at lock.
Sam Warwick and Stephen Campbell also remained in the squad as Craig continues to reward players in form for the high flying second fifteen.
The excellent artificial surface in Nenagh meant the match was under no threat from the bad weather sweeping across the south of the island and Ballynahinch made the perfect start with in form prop Tom McAllister crashing over from close range after just four minutes.
Nenagh responded with a period of pressure but had just a ninth minute penalty to show for their efforts and they were made to pay midway through the half when an excellent break from Conor Rankin put Aaron Sexton in space and he cruised home with trademark ease.
Leading by nine points at the break, Ballynahinch all but sealed the result early in the second half when Bradley Luney scored but the bonus point try proved elusive until Warwick again showed his eye for the tryline, backing up last week’s hat trick in the Bateman Cup semi-final with the crucial fourth try to give his side a maximum haul of points to take north on the long journey home.
The squad has a welcome week off before a season-defining run of eight fixtures across ten weeks.
They take on three of the current top four in the table home and away and have two blockbuster cup finals over the Christmas and New Year period.
Squad depth will be tested to the maximum and Craig will be delighted with the young stars he has promoted to the squad so far. Everyone will be needed as the season cranks up over the Christmas and New Year period.
Ballynahinch 1-20: Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan (Capt), Tom McAllister, Declan Horrox, Ryan Connolly, Zack McCall, Jon Rodgers, Bradley Luney, Chris Gibson, Paul Kerr, Ethan Graham, Mark Best, Matthew Booth, Aaron Sexton, Conor Rankin, Josh Hanlon, John Dickson Jnr, Stephen Campbell, Sam Warwick, Rhuari Meharg, Pierce Crowe.
Ballynahinch RFC Round-up 15 11 2025
Club Notes
Ballynahinch were without several regulars and shipped a heavy home defeat to Malone in the Womens Premiership. They must regroup quickly as Queens are the visitors in a rearranged fixture in Thursday night.
Davy Harris and his second fifteen welcomed second placed Ballymena to Ballymacarn Park and gained a hard fought 14-9 victory to cement their place at the top of the table. They have a week off before preparing for a titanic Junior Cup semi-final at home to Instonians on 29th November.
The thirds suffered another defeat away at Ballymoney and will be hoping for some home comfort in a fortnight versus Omagh.
The Bateman Cup Final will be away to Clontarf on Saturday 3rd January.
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:
Results 08/11/2025
Ballynahinch 78 Sligo 0 (Bateman Cup SF)
Lisburn 10 Ballynahinch 2 48 (Women’s Premiership)
Ballynahinch 4 52 Banbridge 4 0 (Provincial South)
Ballynahinch 5 50 Portadown 3 17 (Regional South.
