It was an afternoon to remember for some of the next generation of Ballynahinch stars as they helped ease the club into the Bateman Cup final. Adam Craig was able to rotate his squad to give some regulars a week off ahead of a tough trip to Nenagh Ormond and still have enough quality on the pitch to score twelve tries without reply against their plucky but outclassed Division 2B opponents.

Back rower Sam Warwick was the star with a hat trick of tries and a host of other up and coming young players caught the eye, including Jon Rodgers, Conor Gibson, Harry McKeown, Quinn Armstrong and Adam Bennett. Their form for the undefeated second XV has been outstanding and a sprinkling of older heads such as Zack McCall, Bradley Luney and Claytan Milligan allowed them to settle in with confidence.

Other squad players with more experience like Ben Wilson, Joe Charles and Stephen Campbell also gained valuable time in the senior jersey and everyone involved will have gained from the experience. This was only the second time Ballynahinch have played Sligo and there were several members of the original squad from 1996 in attendance at the pre-match lunch, including Chris Armstrong, Brian Wilson and Michael Rodgers who were also proudly watching their sons take part on the pitch.

Leinster titans Clontarf will be the opposition in the Bateman Cup Final on Saturday 3rd January 2026.

Photo Credit David Barr

Ballynahinch 1-23 Matthew Burke, Josh Hanlon, Joe Mawhinney, Bradley Luney, Kyle Gill, Zack McCall, Jon Rodgers, Sam Warwick, Chris Gibson, Harry McKeown, Adam Bennett, Quinn Armstrong, Matthew Booth, Conor Rankin, Pierce Crowe, Claytan Milligan, John Dickson, Joe Charles, Stephen Campbell, Ben Wilson, Conor Gibson, Paul Kerr, Aaron Sexton.