Promoted club Terenure College won their first Ulster Bank League top flight game since 2009 as they overcame Ballynahinch in sunny conditions at Lakelands Park.
A superior second half display saw Terenure put some daylight between themselves and 'Hinch, earning a deserved 32-20 victory in front of a large home crowd.
Place-kickers Stephen O'Neill and Chris Quinn landed two penalties apiece during a bright start, with the sides very much intent on playing attacking, open rugby which led to a fantastic contest overall.
It was advantage Terenure when right winger Shane Donovan produced a big hand-off on the way to scoring the Dubliners' first try in the right corner. O'Neill tagged on another penalty for a 14-6 scoreline.
But the County Down visitors hit back on the stroke of half-time with a converted effort from one of their own wide men, Ross Adair, after Terenure lock Fergal Walsh had been sin-binned for a lineout infringement.
A second try from winger Adair made it 20-14 to the Derek Suffern-coached Ulstermen early in the second period, but they failed to score again after that as a determined Terenure outfit found an extra gear.
Replacement Niall Lalor grounded the ball at the end of a muscular lineout drive and the end-to-end nature of the game was summed up by Terenure's next try scored by number 8 Kyle McCoy.
Replacement Mark O'Neill managed to get his boot to the ball at a 'Hinch ruck, launching a tremendous counter attack as Robert Duke – the 2013/14 Division 1B Player of the Year – hacked on and then delivered a brilliant offload for his back row colleague McCoy to touch down under the posts.
Both sides had players in the sin-bin – 'Hinch lost their scrum half Aaron Cairns and Terenure had to cope without try scorer McCoy due to an early tackle – and the hosts seemed to cope better as two final penalties from Mark O'Neill settled the issue.
A bonus point try would have been the perfect way to mark 'Nure's opening day in Division 1A, but Ballynahinch held firm despite a promising break down the right by scrum half Kevin O'Neill – the third O'Neill brother involved, with father Ciaran proudly watching on.
Referee: Eddie Hogan O'Connell (IRFU)
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