‘Hinch crash to earth after heavy defeat

‘Hinch crash to earth after heavy defeat

5 November 2025

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.

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 12 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 15 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 back rower Jon Rodgers’ first AIL try.

The Bateman Cup semi-final against 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.