Ballynahinch retained the First Trust Senior Cup for the first time in their history by defeating Ballymena in an entertaining game tonight at Kingspan Stadium.
The lead changed hands four times with Hinch coming from behind twice to claim victory.
Hinch winger Chris Quinn was man of the match kicking four penalties and a conversion from five attempts.
Hinch had made a bright a start with full back Manihera Eden making a probing run into the Ballymena 22 but he was bundled into touch before he could offload.
Ballymena spurred the opportunity to open the scoring on eight minutes when out half Richie McMaster pushed a penalty wide.
Hinch had lock James Simpson yellow carded on 16 minutes for deliberating pulling down the maul.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Hinch took the lead on 26 minutes with a penalty from Quinn after Ballymena were punished at the breakdown.
Ballymena took the lead two minutes before half time with the game’s opening try.
They were awarded a penalty which they kicked to the corner, from the lineout the pack set up a driving maul and Ulster U20 hooker Adam McBurney was driven over and McMaster converted from a tight angle.
Quinn reduced the Braidmen’s advantage at the break to a point with his second penalty from close to the touchline.
Hinch regained the lead two minutes after the restart when Quinn landed a penalty from his own half.
The lead was short lived as from the restart Ballymena worked the ball through a number of phases before Hinch strayed offside in midfield and McMaster landed the resulting penalty.
The lead changed hands again on 51 minutes with a try from Hinch centre Richard Reaney.
Robin Harte cut through the Ballymena defence with a scything run, his offload ricocheted of James Beattie and rolled over the try line and Reaney was quickest to react pouncing on it for the touchdown with Quinn converting.
Ballymena nearly got their second try when scrumhalf Glen Bailie made a break through midfield, he offloaded to Paddy McGowan but Aaron Cairns tackle prevented the loose forward offloading.
Eden’s made a strong break from 22 to 22 he passed to Stuart Orr but the prop was dragged down, Hinch quickly recycled and from the resulting ruck Ballymena captain Willie McKay was sin binned for killing the ball allowing Quinn to extend the Co Down side’s lead to nine points with eight minutes remaining.
Hinch should have had a second try in the last minute when from a scrum flanker David McGuigan made a break, he was stopped short, the ball was recycled but with an overlap Reaney threw the ball too hard for Quinn together.
Simpson was sent off for a second yellow card offence in injury time.
Full time: Ballymena 10, Ballynahinch 19
Teams:
Ballymena
R McBurney; J Foster, P James, M Irwin, J Beattie; R McMaster, G Baillie;
M Lagan, A McBurney, C Cundell, D Whann, I Caldwell, M Shiels, W McKay, M Rea
Replacements
A Ferguson, J Taggart, P McGowan, J Creighton, J Rosborough
Ballynahinch
M Eden; A Craig, R Harte, R Reaney, C Quinn; J McBriar, A Cairns;
K Hamilton, Z McCall, C Trenier, J Madden, J Simpson, G Gill, D McGuigan, M Graham
Replacements:
S Orr, A Harper, P Pritchard, J Grattan, D Nicholson
Ref J Erskine
The lead changed hands four times with Hinch coming from behind twice to claim victory.
Hinch winger Chris Quinn was man of the match kicking four penalties and a conversion from five attempts.
Hinch had made a bright a start with full back Manihera Eden making a probing run into the Ballymena 22 but he was bundled into touch before he could offload.
Ballymena spurred the opportunity to open the scoring on eight minutes when out half Richie McMaster pushed a penalty wide.
Hinch had lock James Simpson yellow carded on 16 minutes for deliberating pulling down the maul.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Hinch took the lead on 26 minutes with a penalty from Quinn after Ballymena were punished at the breakdown.
Ballymena took the lead two minutes before half time with the game’s opening try.
They were awarded a penalty which they kicked to the corner, from the lineout the pack set up a driving maul and Ulster U20 hooker Adam McBurney was driven over and McMaster converted from a tight angle.
Quinn reduced the Braidmen’s advantage at the break to a point with his second penalty from close to the touchline.
Hinch regained the lead two minutes after the restart when Quinn landed a penalty from his own half.
The lead was short lived as from the restart Ballymena worked the ball through a number of phases before Hinch strayed offside in midfield and McMaster landed the resulting penalty.
The lead changed hands again on 51 minutes with a try from Hinch centre Richard Reaney.
Robin Harte cut through the Ballymena defence with a scything run, his offload ricocheted of James Beattie and rolled over the try line and Reaney was quickest to react pouncing on it for the touchdown with Quinn converting.
Ballymena nearly got their second try when scrumhalf Glen Bailie made a break through midfield, he offloaded to Paddy McGowan but Aaron Cairns tackle prevented the loose forward offloading.
Eden’s made a strong break from 22 to 22 he passed to Stuart Orr but the prop was dragged down, Hinch quickly recycled and from the resulting ruck Ballymena captain Willie McKay was sin binned for killing the ball allowing Quinn to extend the Co Down side’s lead to nine points with eight minutes remaining.
Hinch should have had a second try in the last minute when from a scrum flanker David McGuigan made a break, he was stopped short, the ball was recycled but with an overlap Reaney threw the ball too hard for Quinn together.
Simpson was sent off for a second yellow card offence in injury time.
Full time: Ballymena 10, Ballynahinch 19
Teams:
Ballymena
R McBurney; J Foster, P James, M Irwin, J Beattie; R McMaster, G Baillie;
M Lagan, A McBurney, C Cundell, D Whann, I Caldwell, M Shiels, W McKay, M Rea
Replacements
A Ferguson, J Taggart, P McGowan, J Creighton, J Rosborough
Ballynahinch
M Eden; A Craig, R Harte, R Reaney, C Quinn; J McBriar, A Cairns;
K Hamilton, Z McCall, C Trenier, J Madden, J Simpson, G Gill, D McGuigan, M Graham
Replacements:
S Orr, A Harper, P Pritchard, J Grattan, D Nicholson
Ref J Erskine