Ophir 2nds came out on top in Saturday’s local derby, battling their way to a 29–19 victory over BHSFP at Glengormley Integrated High School.

Debutant Aodhan Maloney made an immediate impact with two well-taken tries, while Francis Lagan powered through for another. There was more to celebrate as debutant Cillian Brown crossed the whitewash to round off a superb first appearance, and Craig Quinn added his name to the scoresheet with a fine finish.

The team performance was full of energy and commitment, with Eoin Given catching the eye on debut and looking right at home in senior rugby. Skipper Neil Gray once again led by example, and vice-captain John Kavanagh was instrumental in guiding the backs, keeping them sharp in both attack and defence.

The standout on the day, however, was Michael McCormack, whose all-action display earned him the Man of the Match award. His work rate, strong carries, and relentless tackling set the standard and helped drive Ophir to victory.

This result showed the strength of the blend between debutants and experienced players, leaving Ophir with plenty of positives to carry into the next round of fixtures.