McMurray and Friel are top two for Ballymena

You can throw a group of footballers into a changing room but it takes something more to make them a team.
Johnny McMurray keeps both Keith OHara and Robbie Garrett occupied at Shamrock Park on Saturday. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.Johnny McMurray keeps both Keith OHara and Robbie Garrett occupied at Shamrock Park on Saturday. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.
Johnny McMurray keeps both Keith OHara and Robbie Garrett occupied at Shamrock Park on Saturday. Photo by TONY HENDRON/Presseye.com.

A common goal, fire in their bellies and fight in their hearts. They have to work for each other.

Well unless he’s telling porkies, new Ballymena United forward Johnny McMurray has already built up a telling rapport with his strike partner.

Boss David Jeffrey captured the signings of McMurray from Cliftonville and Cathair Friel from Limavady during the summer and they’re proving good value.

Before Saturday’s win, Friel had netted five in his last five. And when he didn’t manage to net at Shamrock Park, McMurray stepped up with his third goal of the season.

Although Saturday proved to be his day, it genuinely didn’t seem to matter all that much to the former Reds forward.

“We’re clicking,” said McMurray. “Goals are goals, whether I score them, Cathair scores them or anybody else does. Tony (Kane) has done alright, Kyle (Owens) has done alright. There are goals coming from everywhere in the team.

“(My season’s scoring) has started alright but I think Cathair has started off at a bit of a higher stride. If I can supply him, I don’t think Davey (Jeffrey) will mind if I don’t score as many myself.”

Proving a help to Ballymena’s attacking flow are the deliveries of Tony Kane, who put Kyle Owens’ opener on a plate on Saturday.

“He’s like a sat-nav at the minute,” laughed McMurray. “He can pick a ball out of nowhere. His mind is ridiculous. He sees passes and plays them. He’s scored a few penalties too. I missed one in pre-season and he has jumped all over it.”

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