Annagh United walked out for the second half on Saturday with fresh kit and fresh focus as three goals in 14 minutes moved the game beyond Queen’s University and the hosts towards a 5-1 reward.

It was a case of half-time hot drinks and hot dogs for the dedicated young ballboys at Tandragee Road as on and off the pitch those inside the ground attempted to shelter from the harsh conditions of Storm Boelo.

But it was Annagh – sporting dry away black shirts for the second half after swapping out rain-soaked home red – who managed to blow away the opposition.

Sam Sproule, fresh from having kicked off the scoring before the break, wrapped up his matchday milestone by showing pace and composure for 2-0 then bravery in the box to head home a treble finish.

placeholder image — Annagh United manager Ciaran McGurgan. (Photo by David Maginnis/Pacemaker Press)

That hat-trick hit proved damaging to Queen’s morale so soon after Matthew Hughes had cut the gap to 2-1 and Annagh cemented another victory by the second tier’s first-place team off goals from substitute Henry Cromack and Craig Taylor.

“That first goal was massive, we didn't exactly test them that much early on...our first shot on goal was half-an-hour into the game,” said Annagh manager Ciaran McGurgan. “Half-time we just asked them for a reaction.

"We knew that we could hurt them in the wide areas and just wanted to get the ball down more and down the channels...those balls in behind are where we've been hurting teams this year, especially with the likes of Sam's pace – so it was good to get that second goal early on.

"There's not too many would have gone in (3-1) because you knew there was a hit coming but Sam's brave and he was obviously hungry on his hat trick as well...so fair play to him, he threw his body on the line and got his reward."

Annagh now sit eight points clear of fifth-place Queen’s after 13 games and with an advantage of two at the top over Newington.

"Queen's aren't that far behind us...today was a real six-pointer, to be honest with you so three points really important,” said McGurgan. "I think every week goes on, the boys are getting a bit more belief but they're young so you're having to constantly remind them you're in a tough league and you're in a battle.

“You don't get the time and everyone has to be 100 miles an hour and a consistent level, you can't relax because you get punished in this league if you do that.

"But, to be fair, they're a good bunch of lads...a pleasure and they’re buying into it all."

ANNAGH UNITED: Dylan Graham, Kris Calvert, Jude Cargill, Eoin Teggart, Sam Sproule, Craig Taylor, Jordan Gibson, Aaron Rogers, Lee Upton, James Carroll, Liam Burns. Subs: Martin Marron, Ben Callan, Oliver Crowe, Ross Redman, Rhys David Walsh, Ryan McKnickle, Henry Cromack.

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY: Jack Wilkins, Jack Ovens, David Elliott, Dan Mairs, Tommy Smyth, Christopher Middleton, Matthew Hughes, Ronan Young, Stewart Nixon, Jamie Glover, Leon Bonnes. Subs: Neil Shields, Marc McKenna, Ben Mulgrew, Johnny Mairs, Caoimhin Bonnar, Ambrose Ajala.