Carniny ‘old boys’ making big strides in football circles

The past month has certainly proved that Carniny Youth must be doing something right with the number of young players coming off their ‘production’ line into the top flight of football both locally and nationally.
Rodney Brown, in action here for Coleraine, is one of a number of former Carniny Youth players to have gone on to play at a higher level. Picture: Press Eye.Rodney Brown, in action here for Coleraine, is one of a number of former Carniny Youth players to have gone on to play at a higher level. Picture: Press Eye.
Rodney Brown, in action here for Coleraine, is one of a number of former Carniny Youth players to have gone on to play at a higher level. Picture: Press Eye.

It started recently when former Carniny starlet Josh Carson scored the winning penalty kick for York City in their Capital One Cup ‘shoot out’ with Bradford City.

Josh is a regular visitor to Carniny functions and has never forgotten where he came from and fondly remembers his time at the club.

Saturday past was also another memorable one for the club with two former players taking part in the Ballymena United v Glentoran fixture as Matt Shevlin and Leroy Millar (both ex Carniny) lined up for the Sky Blues.

Carniny have had good relations with their local senior neighbours at Ballymena with current former players, Jack Graham, Kyle Crawford, Stuart Nixon and Jason Johnston all having had first team outings at the Showgrounds recently. Only this week another of their players Caolan Hart also joined Irish League football when he signed for Glenavon.

Other local clubs such as Wakehurst have also benefitted with Lee McCaughern, Craig McCaughern, Kurtis McCartney, Andy Millar, Jordan Lemon, Jake Armstrong, George Young, Ryan Young, Jordon Foster, Corey Price, Macauley Cairns and Connor Ross also having come through the Ballymena ‘reds’ with Samuel McIlveen also plying his trade at Ballyclare Comrades, Rodney Brown with Coleraine, Jack Carson at Carrick Rangers and Eoin Gillan at Larne, whilst many Saturday Morning and Provincial League clubs can thank the youth set up for providing them with players.

The club’s recent relationship with Sunderland AFC saw coaches from England visit the town last week and many local children attended one of the coaching sessions with the possibility of open trials with the Premiership Club.