Malone 2 lose their Junior Cup semi final by a single point

MILLAR McCALL WYLIE JUNIOR CUP SEMI FINAL: Malone seconds 14 Ballynahinch seconds 15.

It was heartbreak for Malone seconds at Ballymacarn Park as they lost a thrilling cup semi final to current holders Ballynahinch seconds in the final minutes of the game. It was ironic both teams lost their first choice scrum halves in advance of the match with Callum Harkin unavailable for Malone and Rhys O’Donnell ruled out for Ballynahinch. This required Callum Jeffrey stepping in for Malone and James McBriar for Ballynahinch. Prop Lee Barlow was required to provide cover for the 1st xv in the absence of Phil Eadie with Richard Bartley coming on to the bench. Michael Browne had made the trip to provide cover from the bench for the backs in place of Callum Jeffrey. For the enthusiastic crowd of supporters it was a case of wrapping up with several layers or seeking the sanctuary of the club house.

Ballynahinch kicked off up the hill against the wind towards Slieve Croob on what you could only describe as certainly a crisp autumnal afternoon with the Malone team exerting the early pressure. Out half Mark O’Connor missed an early penalty opportunity to put his team ahead as the Malone team took the game to the Cup holders with the pack imposing themselves. One player who continues to impress at Malone is Zimbabwean back rower Stuart Doddington who despite being released from the Ulster Sub Academy continues to show the form that will push Paddy Armstrong to include him on the 1st xv. His pace and power carved open the Ballynahinch defence to score the opening try with O’Connor unable to add the points to give Malone an early deserved 5 – 0 lead.

This Ballynahinch team are not the Cup holders for no reason as their centre Will Stewart made a decisive break into the Malone twenty two. The ball was quickly recycled through the hands of Graeme Mckitterick, James McBriar and Justin Rea to put full back Paddy Wright away for an excellent unconverted try in the corner to level the scores. During this passage of play Malone winger Jack McMurtry picked up a ankle injury and was replaced by Michael Brown. There was not much between the teams with Malone not using the wind advantage to pin Ballynahinch deep into their own twenty two. Good play involving Ryan Spence, Tiarnan Dillon and Neil Alcorn forced a series of penalties with Malone kicking to within five metres of the Hinch line. Sadly a crooked throw allowed the home side to clear their lines. It was the turn of Ballynahinch to exert pressure with their number 8 Gareth Gill winning a penalty that allowed out half Justin Rea to kick a penalty to give his team a 8 – 5 lead. Again a Malone penalty took play to within the Ballynahinch line. Sadly an infringement allowed the holders to clear their lines. Would these missed opportunities prove costly. Again good work by the Malone forwards led by James McAllister won his team a penalty. This time O’Connor found the target to level the scores at 8 – 8. The visitors pressed again coming up to the halftime whistle. Crucially indiscipline allowed Ballynahinch to clear their lines and leave the halftime score at 8 – 8.

The second half kicked off with Malone playing up the hill and against the wind. Any thoughts Ballynahinch would go on to dominate were dispelled as a robust Malone pack with the back row of Max Porter, Stuart Doddington and Neil Alcorn enjoying the confrontation with their Ballynahinch counterparts. It was a case of the forwards having to carry ball with James McAllister and Tiarnan Dillon prominent as they won a key penalty. Up stepped O’Connor to put his team 11 – 8 ahead. Malone manager Davy Heron made his second change with Tom Dullage replacing Tiarnan Dillon. This third quarter was being controlled by Malone with Doddington making another searing break only to be tripped up. The referee only awarded a penalty with O’Conner converting to put Malone ahead 14 – 8 in front. The tiring Austen Blackburn who had given everything was replaced by Richard Bartley that in turn stabilised the Malone front row that had been under pressure.

As we entered the final quarter Jonny Ogilby came on to replace Stuart Doddington . Ballynahinch made a number of changes with Josh Donaldson, Andy Simpson and Matt Mckelvey all joining the action as the Cup holders realised their grip on the cup was slipping away. When a 50 metre penalty attempt from Ballynahinch full back Paddy Wright dropped short of the line Malone out half Mark O’Connor was penalised for touching the ball behind his own goal line. The initiative was handed to Ballynahinch who laid siege to the Malone line. They won penalties and kicked to the corner. A crooked throw and excellent defence allowed Malone to clear their lines. The pressure was intense as Malone held up the Ballynahinch scrum. In a rare break out involving O’Connor, Alcorn and and Jonny Ogilby Malone were penalised for crossing to allow Hinch to drive the ball deep into the Malone twenty two. Again Malone resisted the Ballynahinch ball carriers with their number 8 Gareth Gill being yellow carded.

This was a typical no holds barred cup tie with two teams fighting it out for a place in the final. Ballynahinch knew they needed a converted try to win. Another good Malone attack was turned over as the clock ticked down. Was this going to be Davy Heron’s day. With the game on the blow Ballynahinch launched one final assault. As in the first half referee Chris Lough penalised Malone forcing the team to defend for their lives. With Hinch choosing to scrum they eventually made the breakthrough on 80 mins. From a set scrum centre Will Stewart stepped outside his opposite number 10 metres from the line to score the crucial try beside the posts to narrow the Malone lead to 14 – 13. Up stepped Wright to kick the straight forward conversion and put his team 15 – 14 in front. Despite 3 minutes of injury time it was a jubilant Ballynahinch team and their supporters who celebrated at the final whistle as they return to the Kingspan stadium on Thursday 21st December where they will play Armagh seconds in the final. What a magnificent effort by Davy Heron and his players. It was the second week in a row that a Malone team had lost out in a Cup semi final with the 1st xv losing at City of Armagh.

Another way of looking at this result is the progress the second xv have made in the last 12 months. Davy Heron has built a team that has won the McCrea Cup and lost out narrowly to Cup Holders Ballynahinch in the Junior Cup semi final. They are top of Conference league 2 with five matches to play before the 30th of December. In February they will begin their defence of the McCrea Cup. Well done to everybody involved.

Malone team: 1. Austen Blackburn, 2. Connor Kelly, 3. Ricky Greenwood (Captain), 4. James McAllister, 5. Tiarnan Dillon, 6. Max Porter, 7. Stuart Doddington, 8. Neil Alcorn, 9. Callum Jeffrey, 10. Mark O’Connor, 11. Chris Rowan, 12, David Irvine, 13. Ryan Spence, 14. Jack McMurtry, 15. Bruce Duff, 16. Tom Dullage, 17. James Rae, 18. Michael Browne, 19. Jonny Ogilby, 20. Richard Bartley.

Sadly the thirds lost their Crawford Cup match away to Ballynahinch 5ths 13 – 3.

This week coming the 1st xv are at home to Galway Corinthians in the UBL with the second xv away to UUC. The thirds are away to undefeated Dromore seconds in the league.

Please make the effort to come out and support the teams.