In superb sunny conditions in Belfast, Bangor Academy started the afternoon by piling on the early pressure, but Dunclug College worked hard to win turnovers and clear their lines.
However, Bangor Academy simply kept coming and influential fly-half, Sean Hynes, continued to make good ground with strong carries.
One of these early runs got his side to just outside the 22, and it was from there that Frankie Forbes caught the defence cold.
The openside picked and went from the breakdown, racing into the gap down the blindside and breaking a last-ditch tackle before reaching for the line to score.
The game’s opening try jolted Dunclug College into life, and they spent the next few minutes camped in the Bangor Academy 22 trying to batter down the door.
They were soon rewarded with a penalty and chose to kick at goal, only for Joel Barr’s effort to hit the post.
Outside centre Barr then made up for the miss with a huge line break from halfway as he drove deep into the Bangor 22, with his side winning a penalty.
Hooker Noah Carson took the quick tap and fed the ball to Adam Walsh, who cut back across the defensive line and darted through to score with 25 minutes played. This time Alex Houston stepped up for kicking duties and split the posts to make it 7-5.
Bangor’s Hynes slotted them back in front with a 31st minute penalty from just outside the 22, but there was still time for Houston to land another kick of his own off the tee to give Dunclug College a 10-8 lead at the break.
HT Bangor Academy 8-10 Dunclug College
Whatever was said to Bangor at half-time seemed to inspire them to instant action, with a huge break by Sean McClory from halfway getting them dangerously close to the Dunclug College line.
After a few quick phases off the back of a tapped penalty, it was captain Steven Boyd who burrowed over from close range to score the try, with Hynes landing a difficult kick to make it 15-10.
However, Dunclug College replied with a superb try in the 43rd minute.
The backs showed good hands to combine for several phases and make the yards, before captain Timothy McNabney crashed over for the try which was converted by Houston to give them a narrow lead.
Just three minutes later, the momentum swung back in favour of Bangor Academy who smashed their way back into the Dunclug College 22 with a series of strong carries. Eventually they switched it wide down the blindside and Forbes finished well for his second try of the final which made it 20-17.
With 55 on the clock and full-time approaching, Bangor smartly elected to kick at goal with a penalty inside the Dunclug College 22. From right in front of the posts, Hynes made no mistake and gave his side a bit of breathing space.
With the clock in the red, the Bangor Academy backs combined well before sending Liam Mason clear for the right winger to score in the corner to add some gloss to the scoreline.
Hynes rounded off an impressive kicking performance at Kingspan Stadium by knocking over the conversion which signalled full time and confirmed Bangor Academy as the champions.
FT Bangor Academy 30-17 Dunclug College
Scorers
Bangor Academy:
TRY: Forbes (x2), Boyd, Mason
CON: Hynes (x2)
PEN: Hynes (x2)
Dunclug College:
TRY: Walsh, Houston, McNabney
CON: Houston
Player of the Match - Frankie Forbes
Teams
Bangor Academy
1-15: George Moss; Jordan Abel; Luke Thompson; Harry Bothwell; Harrison Telford; Finley Saunders; Frankie Forbes; Ben Payam; Steven Boyd (C); Sean Hynes; Oran Canning; Scott McLelland; Luke Graham; Liam Mason; Sean McClory.
Replacements: Joe McEvoy; Will Fisher; Jay Ferguson; Blake Field; Matthew Blayney; Thomas Rice; Jamie Frazer; Isaac Gourley.
Dunclug College
1-15: Daniel Berry; Noah Carson; Sam McIntyre; Finlay McKay; Marc Agnew; Rhyan Doole; Beni Hulpea; Timothy McNabney (C); Roddy McNeill; Adam Walsh; Daniel Wylie; Tom Knox; Joel Barr; Alex Houston; Calvin McNeill.
Replacements: Neale Fleming; Riley Pape; Joel Agnew; Lucas Barnett; Luke Millar; Charlie McDermott; Glenn McFetridge; Joshua Orr.
