Carniny U-19s suffer home defeat to St Oliver Plunkett

It proved to be a game of few chances with the visitors making the best of the few opportunities they had.

The first period was a particularly tight affair with each of the young sides on show cancelling each other out.

Bunting had his defence well marshalled and little was given away whilst Hart, Mekdade and Jaworski and Price had the better of the two midfields.

The second period was a continuation of the first and it was going to take something special to break the deadlock.

Unfortunately that was to prove to be at Carniny’s loss when the ball was fumbled by Monaghan in the Ballymena side’s goal for an early Christmas present for the visitors.

Monaghan then made up for his mistake with an excellent save to provenet the visitors from doubling their lead.

Carniny battled hard and Balmer tried to plough the lone furrow in attack but to no avail and on 80 minutes Plunkett again scored to make it 2-0.

Despite this result seeing Plunkett leap-frog Carniny Youth in the league table, the Ballymena boys can be pleased with the first half of their debut season at this level, particularly as the majority of their panel can still play at this age level again next season.

Carniny Amateurs U-19s: Marquess, Calderwood, Bunting, Johnston, Burns, Hart, Mekdade, McManus, Jaworski, BBalmer, Price, Webb, Mairs, Killough.