Billies young guns make the difference

at Aughrim Padraig Byrne who pointed in the opening seconds after the restart. Craig Farrar and Colm Byrne exchanged points before Roan Lynch got his second goal of the game to put the Billies back in to the lead 3-5 to 3-4 in the 39th minute.

Mark Kenny pointed as Stapleton and O’Keeffe took over again around the middle third and the alert Paddy Cronin prevented a speculative Liam Byrne shot creeping in to the top corner for another Ballymanus goal.

Kenny pointed the resultant 45 and the Billies capped this period of dominance off with a fourth goal from Craig Farrar after good work from Sean O’Neill who made a good impression when introduced. Colm Byrne had a good long range score for Stratford which was answered by a Padraig Byrne free. Stratford made one last effort to save the game and won another penalty which yielded the same result as Shane Byrne beat Brendan Doyle again in the 52nd minute, 4-9 to 4-5.

Shane Whelan who had an excellent hour for the Billies dropped a point over the bar to settle the nerves with time almost up. Mark Murphy and Paddy Byrne from a free exchanged points as the whistle sounded to signal the end of a game that had looked like it was going to be a cagey affair but finished anything but. This was Byrnes first score of the day after he had a frustrating time trying to find the target but his work rate all over the field was instrumental in creating chances for others.

While 80 per cent of the players were packed in to either half at stages in the game the best laid plans of defensive systems and such went out the window with poor defending at times on both sides. The number of goal chances offered up will be a concern for both O’Sullivan and Ballymanus manager Mervyn Travers going forward.

In a tough group to predict, score difference could be vital so expect some extra work for the backs at training this week. The Billies have a nice balance to their team and will make another bold bid for that elusive crown while Stratford have lost their opening two games they will have seen plenty to be optimistic about in this showing which was much improved on the Donard the Glen defeat. BALLYMANUS: Brendan Doyle, Aidan Byrne, Dara Byrne, Colm Coogan; Shane Whelan (0-1), Mark Kenny (0-2), Liam Byrne; Ray Stapleton, Darragh O’Keeffe; Roan Lynch (2-1), Paddy Byrne (0-1 free), Seamus Coogan; Craig Farrar (1-2), Padraig Byrne (1-4), Subs: Glen Farrar for K Whelan (39 mins), Sean O’Neill for C Coogan (43 mins), Kevin Byrne for S Coogan (55 mins), Colm Coogan for Craig Farrar (61 mins). STRATFORD: Patrick Cronin, Adam Doyle, Marcus Hanbidge, James Barrett; Jason Bolger, Michael Mangan, Ian Moore; Mark Landon, Matt Manley; Shane Byrne, Ciaran Byrne, Colm Byrne, Mark Caplis, David Cush, Mark Murphy. Subs: Manus Keane for Moore (22 mins, inj), Larry McGrath for Landon (47 mins), Landon for Colm Byrne (60 mins).