Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Starting to Friel like champions
BALLYMENA United made it 10 wins in all competitions at Warrenpoint Town to stay two points clear at the top of the Danske Bank Premiership.
A brace from Cathair
Friel, who hit the 50 goal mark in 109 games for the club, and strikes from Adam Lecky and James Knowles got the job done at
Milltown.
Warrenpoint led through a Robbie Norton penalty and pulled it back to 4-2 with a late Mark Griffin header, but the Sky Blues weren’t to be denied.
David Jeffrey’s men are unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions – 14 wins and a draw – and have taken 31 points from a possible 33 in their last 11 league outings.
“We’re not getting carried away, but it would be wrong to say Bryan (Mclaughlin) and I aren’t enjoying this,” said Jeffrey.
“To see something developing is most pleasing, but we are taking it game by game, week by week.
“This is a second week we have been top of the table and that’s fantastic. We’ll enjoy it but our focus now turns to Crusaders in the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night.”
One concern for Jeffrey was defender Jonny Addis, one of United’s standout players this season, limping off late on with a muscular problem in his back.
Jeffrey said: “It’s a case of wait and see. Jonny has been phenomenal, but thankfully we have the likes of Andrew Burns who is back fit again and did a really good job.”