Dromore lift the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup for the first time since 1939 with a 22-19 win over arch-rivals Ballynahinch at Kingspan Stadium last night.

Tries from Tom Lyttle and Ben Heath, combined with a penalty try secured the win for the Co Down side as they held off a Hinch fight back in the second half.

Despite Dromore controlling the game in the opening stages it was their counterparts who took the lead through a Matthew Norton penalty, however their fabled rolling maul rolled into gear ten minutes later as Lyttle crossed for his side’s opening try.

Another Norton penalty made it 6-5 to the reigning the Champions however Dromore were handed the lead again on the stroke of half time.

Strong carrying from Andrew Black and Aaron Stewart combined with a jinking run from Adam McDonald gave Dromore the momentum inside the Hinch 22. With an overlap out wide the ball was whisked wide but a knock on from Hinch’s Aaron Ferris was deemed deliberate and the referee marched under the posts to award a penalty try.

With a man advantage at the start of the second half, Dromore picked up where they left off as Heath crashed over the line for a third Dromore try just after the restart.

As the second half progressed Hinch continued to press against a tiring Dromore side. McDonald was sent to the bin for a professional foul at the ruck after he pulled off a try saving tackle on Hinch’s Jonathan McCoubrey resulting in Ronan Patterson crossing in the corner in the next play to leave last year’s winners chasing a seven point deficit.

Dromore were afforded respite as Lee Steenson knocked over a penalty midway through the half to put two scores between the sides before Ferris capitalized on a rare Dromore error to provide a nail biting finish.

Dromore held on much to the delight of the travelling support who sounded their appreciation on the final whistle.

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Photo credit – Bob Given Photography & John McMurtry