Mary's hand Ballymena shock defeat

Ballymena 6 St Mary’s 9

Battling St Mary's gave coach Brent Pope the ideal Christmas present with their first win of the season before the seasonal break, shocking former league leaders Ballymena 9-6 on a rain-lashed Raceview Road.

It was third hosting second-from-bottom and with four losses and a draw to their names, including last Sunday's 25-22 defeat to Clontarf, Mary's were expected to surrender a half-time lead of 6-3 as they turned into a stiff breeze.

But the Dubliners are made of sterner stuff and with number 8 Willie Duggan, son of the former Irish international in man-of-the-match form, they held out. They scored just once in the second half with a third Cathal Connolly penalty fifteen minutes from the end, cancelling out a penalty effort from Ian Humphreys on the hour mark.

The first half began with full back Connolly in fine fettle, arrowing over a second minute penalty from the halfway line and doubling the lead to 6-0 in the 8th minute.

Namibian back Dirkie Strydom, playing in the centre today, hit back for the Braid men with a 25 metre penalty in the fourteenth minute but that's all Tony D'Arcy's men could muster in a disappointing first half performance.

Little changed after the break and Ballymena were condemned to their second loss in seven games. Mary's, with three bonus points to their name, now have nine points after six games.

Scorers: Ballymena: Pen: D Strydom, I Humphreys

St Mary’s: Pen: C Connolly 3