Solid show from ‘Hinch enough

Solid show from ‘Hinch enough

14 November 2012 - by BY JOHN DICKSON

CHRIS Quinn converted a long range effort into the breeze in the eighth minute to give Ballynahinch an early lead in this All-Ireland League contest and it was mostly plain sailing after this.

However, the hosts gave away a soft penalty in the 10th minute and John McGuckin converted to make it 3-3.

In the 17th minute a Quinn penalty took ‘Hinch clear again 6-3, but they infringed at the restart and McGuckin levelled the score at 6-6.

Dungannon took the lead in the 24th minute thanks to quick thinking and fine individual skill from full back Peter Nelson.

The ball squirted out of a ruck on the ‘Hinch 22 and Nelson was quick to get his foot to it, hacking it past the ‘Hinch defence then winning the race to the line and dive on the ball under the posts. McGuckin added the extras to take Dungannon into a 13-6 lead.

The visitors enjoyed most of the play for the remainder of the first half which concluded with the Tyrone hanging on to their 13-6 lead.

The ‘Hinch made the perfect start to the second half, pressing the visitors onto the back foot. Blaine McIlroy was the instigator of the ‘Hinch attack hacking on, then picking up a loose ball from the back of a Dungannon scrum.

The forwards continued the attack and eventually, after a few phases, the ball was flashed right to find Stuart Morrow in space and he finished off the score. Quinn added the extras from the touchline to bring both sides back on level terms 13 points apiece.

McGuckin missed a penalty attempt in the 46th minute then Quinn put ‘Hinch 16-13 in front when he converted a penalty goal after Stuart McCloskey was yellow carded for not rolling away in the tackle in the 52nd minute.

Quinn added a further long range penalty and then scored the second ‘Hinch try after quick ball was released wide to the left in the 59th minute and Quinn beat the Dungannon cover to cross in the corner. He failed to convert leaving the ‘Hinch 24-13 clear

Both sides finished with 14 men after Paul Pritchard and Derek Hall were sidelined for separate offences.

With three minutes remaining Dungannon flanker Derek Hall was yellow carded for deliberately preventing Blaine McIlroy from taking a quick tap penalty.

Play was moved 10 metres closer to the Dungannon line and McIlroy tapped again, feeding James Simpson, who did extremely well to battle his way over under the posts. Quinn added the conversion to make it 31-13 and complete the scoring.

A solid enough performance and Hinch were happy to take the four league points.

Ballynahinch: Adam Craig, Chris Quinn, Stuart Morrow, Robin Harte, Aaron Ferris, Harry McAleese, Blaine McIlroy, David McGuigan, Paul Pritchard, Jonny Madden, Chris Napier, James Simpson, Kyle McCall, Andrew Harper, Chris Stevenson (capt). Replacements: Aaron Cairns, Michael Lawton, Gavin Armstrong, Neil Faloon, Jonny Simpson.