The all-conquering Ballynahinch side completed a stunning quadruple of senior competition wins, adding the AIB Division 2 trophy to the Ulster Senior Cup, Ulster Senior League and AIB Cup.

The Hinch men traveled to Limerick having defeated Lansdowne on Monday last, minus six regulars including influential flanker Willie Faloon, and winger Kyle Corrigan both of who were studying for exams this week. David Harris and Gareth Rourke picked up injuries during the week while Robert Greer was attending a wedding and Stuart Lamb was unavailable due to suspension. Despite this serious loss in personnel the County Down men came from being 21-12 down to stun table-toppers UCC and chalk up their 16 straight win in all competitions.

UCC had been the best side the Hinch had faced this season so a tough tough battle was expected and I am pleased to report that both teams did not disappoint and served up a cracking game. The Dooradoyle pitch was in perfect condition for this end of season contest, which was the 38th game on the trot for the Hinch men. In bright sunshine and with a strong breeze blowing across the pitch the Hinch kicked off in search of their fourth trophy of the season.

The Cork students made the perfect start pressing the Hinch into conceding a penalty in the 1st minute but Gavin Dunne’s shot at goal was pushed wide. The Munster men looked very busy and moved the ball with great purpose and pace and struck the first blow after only six minutes when outside centre Ivan Dineen was on the end of a sweeping backline move to cross for the opening try in the left hand corner. Gavin Dunne added the extras with a fine effort from the touchline to give his side a 7-0 lead.

Hinch managed to gather themselves and play quickly centered around the UCC 22 where the Hinch pack set up a number of drives for the line. With the students tied into the ruck Harry McAleese fired the ball to young David Nicholson who made a neat half break to put skipper Jonny Cullen free, the Hinch fullback diving over for his sides first try. Ryan Bambry converted the extra points to tie the scores at 7 points apiece.

From the restart the Hinch failed to gather the ball and the students took advantage, running play deep into the Hinch 22. Now it was the student’s turn to put the Hinch pack under pressure as the set up a ruck just metres short of the Hinch line. Following a couple of pick and drives hooker Wayne Falvey picked up and darted around the blind side to find no Hinch defence at home and dotted down for a soft score, which went unconverted to give the Cork men a 12-7 lead.

t was end-to-end stuff and the Hinch men hit back within 2 minutes. The students failed to deal with the Hinch restart with Jonny Cullen hacking the ball

through, Cullen giving chase forcing UCC skipper Sam Cronin to pick up and dot down to concede a 5-metre scrum to the Hinch in front of the posts. From the scrum Harry McAleese moved the ball wide where Aaron Ferris gathered and beat off the challenge of winger Colin Crowley to cross in the corner for the second Hinch try. Bambry was unlucky with his conversion attempt, which struck the left hand upright leaving the score tied once again at 12 points apiece.

UCC lifted their game in the next 10 minutes with out half Gavin Dunne converting 2 penalty goals in the 21st, 32nd minutes, the Hinch losing the services of prop Chris Stevenson for the next 10 minutes after he failed to roll away from the tackler during the last offence. Dunne was on tarhet with a well struck drop goal in the 34th and with Hinch now 21-12 behind it was vital for the County Down men to strike before halftime and the half closed with Ryan Bambry converting a penalty in front of the posts to keep the Hinch in touch trailing 21-15 at the interval.

The Hinch made the perfect start to the second half with just two minutes played Nevin Spence made a half break in the midfield allowing hooker Neil Hanna to burst into the line to show a great turn of pace racing clear to cross for a vital score. Bambry missed the conversion to leave the Hinch trailing by a single point 21-20.

This early score clearly lifted the Hinch side as they turned up the tempo the students suddenly lost their shape and they struggled to contain the County Down men as they got their continuity game into full flow. Bambry converted a penalty goal in the 54th minute to put the Hinch in front for the first time as the game started to change in the favor of the Ulster side.

Quick ball and neat off-loading were putting the Cork men under pressure then the game took a dramatic turn in the 58th minute when Hinch centre Nevin Spence burst clear on the 10 metre line and had enough gas to race in for what was a fantastic try but the match winning score. Bambry failed to convert leaving his side with a 7-point lead 21-28, with just over 10 minutes to play

The students threw everything at the Hinch but Bambry and McAleese kept play deep in the UCC half of the field with some excellent line kicks. Up front the Hinch pack kept their discipline in the tight exchanges making sure no penalties were awarded denying the Munster men an opportunity to build any decent field positions. It was simple but very smart rugby from the Hinch men and they controlled the remainder of the game to clinch the AIB Division 2 trophy and bring down the curtain on what can only be described as a remarkable season.