Ballymacash Rangers manager Gary Hamilton paid special praise to hat-trick hero Marcus Murphy and Dylan Sinnerton after their contributions in an emphatic 6-1 win over Ballyclare Comrades.

Ballyclare, who sit second in the Premier Intermediate League and are on track to seal promotion to a revamped Championship, had only leaked 18 goals in 17 games prior to Friday night.

However, Hamilton’s men ran rampant at Dixon Park with Murphy scoring three times and providing an assist in his first senior appearance since January while Jonny Doyle’s brace and a Harry O’Neill strike added further gloss.

Former Glenavon youngster Sinnerton hasn’t featured for Ballymacash in almost a month, but started on Friday evening and marked his recall by claiming an assist.

placeholder image — Ballymacash Rangers manager Gary Hamilton. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

"Special praise goes to Dylan Sinnerton who hasn't been in the team and he knows the reason why, but he has got his act together over the last couple of weeks,” Hamilton told the club’s media channel. “He was excellent in training and as for Marcus, he has been unfortunate.

"He didn't play for five weeks before Christmas because Knockbreda didn't have any games and then his missus had a child, which is great for him, but that put him back another couple of weeks.

"He has worked hard as well, he has lost a lot of weight, got fit, looks sharp and he got his reward.

"I'm paying them special praise because they haven't been in the team for a while but they've got their heads on it, got their attitudes right, fitness levels are brilliant.

"I said to them all before that if fitness levels and attitudes are right, they can all play. I thought everybody was excellent and I'm delighted to see six goals. It's a great result for us."

With four sides gaining promotion to a fresh 16-team Championship ahead of next season, Ballymacash will hope a statement win over high-flying Ballyclare can spark a push up the table.

They’re now seven points shy of the top-four, but Hamilton knows anything can happen in an unpredictable third-tier.

"This league is crazy, it's mental,” he added. “I think Ballyclare had only conceded four goals at home all season in the league and we've come here tonight and scored six - and could have had a few more.

"From the start of the match until the end we were excellent.

"When our boys show up and are on it, they're a challenge for anybody.

"We probably let ourselves down more against Knockbreda at home and last weekend against Sunnyside, everything that could have went wrong did on the day. The rest of the games there hasn't been much in it.

"It's our first year together and we've built a new squad. We've won a cup and hopefully we can pick up more positive results and see where it takes us."