Terenure impress against Ballymena

Terenure College 14 Ballymena 12, Lakelands Park

Terenure College confirmed their place in Division One next season by pulling off this gritty win over Ballymena at Lakelands Park this afternoon.

After last weekend's win at St. Mary's College, three penalty goals from David McAllister and a try from hooker Kevin Mahony were enough for 'Nure to take the spoils.

Mahony crossed in the 15th-minute but Ballymena signalled their intent on the half-hour when influential lock Ian Caldwell touched down.

McAllister's boot kept the hosts ahead but an unconverted Alan Smyth try had them sweating late on.

Having lost nine of their last ten AIB League matches, this was a vital win for Kevin West's side and one which will put the pressure off them ahead of the final weekend of games on April 19.

They deserved this latest triumph, particularly from the endeavour showned by their tough-tackling second row and back row units.

John Dever, the home side's 20-year-old flanker, stood out in that regard with one bone-crunching hit on Ballymena man Caldwell, midway through the second half, summing up 'Nure's desire for the win.

McAllister kicked his side into a sixth-minute lead when he bisected the posts with a well-struck penalty.

On the quarter-hour, a spell of pressure inside the Ballymena 22 paid off for 'Nure. They kicked a penalty to touch, Peter O'Malley claimed the lineout ball and hooker Mahony, after a couple of pick and goes, muscled his way over for the try.

McAllister missed the difficult conversion and Ballymena responded well by throwing the ball wide and getting the versatile Craig Woods, who lined out on the wing, involved in somes sparky attacks.

A late charge by McAllister on the Ballymena full-back earned him a yellow card in the 23rd-minute and while 'Nure were down to 14 men, Caldwell barged through for a try to the right of the posts.

Woods converted for 8-7 but right on the stroke of half-time, McAllister returned to kick his second penalty and give his side a four-point buffer.

Into the second half, the Braidmen almost struck back in the opening minutes. 'Nure captain Stephen Nolan was pinged for a deliberate knock-on but Woods missed the subsequent penalty kick.

The Dubliners bolstered their lead when, after a quick break involving Dever and his back row colleague Bertrand Guiry, Caldwell was whistled up for killing the ball and McAllister popped his kick through the uprights.

Terenure were not out of the woods yet as centre Alan Smyth wormed his way over for a late try which Woods narrowly failed to convert, leaving the score-line at 14-12.

There was still time for Mark O'Neill, on as a replacement for McAllister, to try and land a monster penalty but his effort was off target and 'Nure's defence had to be water-tight in injury-time as Ballymena managed to make it back into their 22 before the final whistle.