For the entire first half it appeared as though Terenure were destined to work themselves into a lather for their points only to allow Ballymena full back Simon Mason to step up and kick the wind out of their efforts. No worry either that Mason is not quite the metronome he was last year but three out of four kicks in the first period, including one from six metres inside his own half, was bound to have rung alarm bells in Terenure coach Gerry Murphy's corner.
In the end, however, there was little to stop the home side who went on the rampage in the second half when they scored 33 points. Ballymena simply wilted, with Mason, the inspiration of the first half for the Ulster travellers, the guilty party in Terenure's final try just before the final whistle. Moving out of his own 22, Mason's careless inside pass was intercepted by centre David Lynagh, who gratefully cart-wheeled over the line. And rightly. By that stage the match was already Terenure's. The bonus point for four tries added a festive touch.
Ballymena will point to the virus which afflicted their camp, with second row Mark Blair, scrum-half Mark Edwards and prop Norman McKiernan all out.
With Dion O'Cuinneagain resting and a serious looking injury to Dean McCartney's knee just before half time will be cause for concern given his prior cruciate problems.
It would be churlish to claim the score-line flattered, certainly on the second half performance as Terenure were dominant with their scrum causing all sorts of problems. As a result referee Bertie Smith was compelled to award two second-half push-over tries.
Terenure had worked hard for little in the first 40 minutes with captain Rory Sheriff, in his first game back in the second row after an ankle injury, making a strong impression around the pitch and in the line-outs. It was from his take 30 metres out on the left that Terenure drove over for their first try, through Eric Miller.
With a penalty from Shane Cullen and a conversion from Lynagh, Terenure went to the turn around 10-9 in front, Mason kicking three penalties. An eye-catching try from international winger James Topping then nosed the Ulster side ahead before Ballymena crumbled.
The first penalty-try arrived as Ballymena creaked and groaned and finally went down on their line before Lynagh kicked a conversion and three penalties and Richie Governey dropped a goal all within 20 minutes. Another penalty-try was award with Lynagh again converting and that took the score to 36-14 before the victory was given a final gloss with the final bonus try coming in the closing seconds.
Scoring sequence: 9 mins: S Cullen pen 30; 12 mins: S Mason pen 3-3; 15 mins: S Mason pen 3-6; 21 mins: E Miller try, D Lynagh con 10-6; 30 mins: S Mason penalty 10-9. Half time. 46 mins: J Topping try 10-14; 53 mins: Pen try, D Lynagh con 17-14; 60 mins: D Lynagh pen 20-14; 63 mins: D Lynagh pen 2314; 70 mins: D Lynagh pen 26-14; 73 mins: R Governey drop gl 29-14; 78 mins: Pen try, D Lynagh con 36-14; 80 mins: D Lynagh try, con 43-14.
Terenure: G Dempsey; D Murphy, S Cullen, D Lynagh, J Coffey; R Governey, J Sherry; S Baretto, J Blaney, J Campbell; R Sheriff (capt), C Potts; P O'Malley, J Sharpe, E Miller. Replacements: M Smyth for Cullen 20 mins. D Blaney for Sharpe 63 mins.
Ballymena: S Mason; J Park, R Botha, S Stewart, J Topping; S Broughton, N Robson; B Young, B Fisher, W Allister; A Graham, G Longwell; D Topping, C McCarey, D McCartney. Replacements: J Andrews for D McCartney 40 mins. A McCloy for Robson and J Wells for Broughton 72 mins.
Referee: B Smith
