AIB SENIOR CUP FINAL: Ballynahinch 17 Constitution 6: THE BALLYNAHINCH fairytale continued at Dubarry Park, Athlone, yesterday when the humble Ulster club's dream came through with a thoroughly deserved defeat of raging hot favourites Cork Constitution.
Indeed their success should have been more emphatic, for they spurned a plethora of second-half chances when assisted by the considerable, cool breeze.
This left them exposed to a typical Cork Con smash and grab, but justice was done when substitute John Gunson put the issue beyond doubt with an added-time touchdown.
The northerners, whose support outnumbered their opponents by at least 10 to one, played as selected but league champions Cork Con had a number of changes with Simon Zebo lining out on the left wing and Garreth Murray propping.
Ballynahinch showed no signs of nerves and began at a high tempo which they rarely relented. A promising maul yielded a 10th-minute penalty, but Ryan Bambry was off-target against the wind.
Cork Con’s Jeremy Manning opened the scoring with a 27th-minute penalty from the left.
On 35 minutes Ballynahinch they put a splendid move together, started by Aaron Ferris in his 22 and their diagonal break and swift hands brought play to Con’s danger zone where the northerners kept their composure to regroup and Michael Graham took Willie Falloon’s offload to dive over for a timely try, converted by Bambry.
Con responded with a superb Manning penalty following a lineout on halfway, but this was, surprisingly, to be their final score and Ballynahinch led 7-6 at the break.
Now with the wind helping them, Ballynahinch signalled their intent on the restart and inspiring captain Stuart Lamb gave Gareth Rourke a great try opportunity, but Cronan Healy’s despairing tackle was deemed enough to have put the lock in touch right at the left corner flag.
The usually reliable Bambry continued to have an off-day with his place-kicking, squandering kickable penalties on 46 and 61 minutes.
Ballynahinch continued to surge forward but Kyle Corrigan wasted a gilt-edged chance when he spilled the ball from Jonny Cullen’s 56th-minute pass, while Billy Holland did well to tidy up after Chris Napier had accepted a Cork Con knock-on nine minutes later.
Bambry finally found his kicking form with a penalty on the 22 to edge the score to 10-6.
Bambry missed another penalty on 75 minutes before man of the match Lamb snaffled possession in added time to again drive forward, helped by David McGregor, with another substitute Gunson finishing off for a try that sent the vociferous hordes of Ballynahinch supporters into delirium.
BALLYNAHINCH:J Cullen; A Ferris, S Morrow, D Harris, K Corrigan; R Bambry, H McAleese; C Stevenson, N Hanna, J Cronin; G Rourke, C Napier; M Graham, W Faloon, S Lamb (capt). Replacements: P McAllister for Stevenson and J Gunson for Rourke, (both 72 mins), R Greer for Graham (73 mins), D McGregor for Hanna (77 mins), L Johnston for Cronin (78 mins).
CORK CONSTITUTION:D Lyons; C Healy, T Gleeson, E Ryan, S Zebo; J Manning, C Nolan; G Murray, L Gabriel, T Ryan; M O'Connell, D Kelly; B Holland (capt), P O'Mahony, F Cogan. Replacements: J Moloney for Kelly (47 mins), R Lane for Nolan (53 mins), T Kenneally for Manning (57 mins), E Leamy for O'Mahony (62 mins).
Referee:Allain Rolland (Leinster).
