Hinch start new season with a win

1 October 2025

BALLYNAHINCH survived a late scare to take maximum points from their opening AIL fixture at Ballymacarn Park.

The home side had an almost full-strength squad available, but coach Adam Craig and his backroom staff had legitimate concerns that the early season opposition hadn’t provided any real test.

The off season project to revamp the changing rooms saw Ballynahinch emerge from a brand new building and for the first half an hour of the match they matched their new surroundings with immaculate clinical rugby as they scored four converted tries to lead by 28 points with a bonus point victory seemingly a formality.

The talismanic Bradley Luney opened the scoring and captain Claytan Milligan went over from close range to open up a lead.

Mark Best then scored to finish a long period of pressure and when Matthew Booth picked an excellent line to score under the posts after Luney and Declan Horrox started a counter attack from deep in their own half Young Munster looked well beaten.

They were second best in every department, but were given a lifeline just before the half when Ballynahinch fell off a couple of tackles to allow tricky winger Hubert Gilvarry to score.

The second half was dominated by the away side as they capitalised on an ill-disciplined and disjointed Ballynahinch performance to chip away at the deficit.

Gilvarry was also involved as they scored through Shay McCarthy and Ballynahinch nerves were really jangling when Christian Foley reduced the arrears to less than ten points with half an hour still to play.

Irish U-20 prop Tom McCallister steadied the ship with another converted try to rebuild the lead, but Young Munster continued to dominate possession and territory, scoring two more converted tries through Gilvarry and Paul Allen to move just two points behind with ten minutes remaining.

When the Limerick visitors were awarded a very kickable penalty in the dying embers of the match the Ballynahinch faithful thought history was to repeat itself after Young Munster stole the points in similar fashion two seasons previously.

Luckily Kelvin Langan’s kick was off target and Ballynahinch kicked off their season with a full complement of five match points.

They travel to newly promoted Old Belvedere this Saturday. All support welcome.

Ballynahinch (1-20): Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan (Capt), Tom McAllister, Declan Horrox, Bradley Luney, Marcus Rea, Zack McCall, Bryn Ward, Chris Gibson, Paul Kerr, Aaron Sexton, Mark Best, Matthew Booth, Ethan Graham, Conor Rankin, Josh Hanlon, Joe Mawhinney, Ryan Connolly, Peter Heasley, James Humphreys, Pierce Crowe.

Ballynahinch 35

Young Munster 33

AIL DIVISION 1A

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