IT WAS symptomatic of Blackrock's season that they allowed in-form Ballymena back into this game having once led the visitors by 19 points in Saturday's final Division One game at Stradbrook. However, in the end it was the boot of centre David Lynagh which made the difference.

Alan McGowan, Blackrock's outhall, had opened the scoring after 17 minutes when he went under the posts. Fellow half back Nicky Assal, then put Blackrock into double figures, with Lynagh sending over his second conversion.

Ballymena right wing Paul Rodgers, was guilty of poor defensive play when Aidan Guinan scored in the left-hand corner. But the visitors stuck to their task and by half-time had pulled the score back to 19-10.

A score straight after the break from New Zealender Mike Brewer put a bit more light between the two but Ballymena gradually cut into Blackrock's lead. However, the hosts finishing the stronger.