Carniny Youth ‘young guns’ take centre stage

WITH all of Carniny Youth’s full sided team seasons now drawn to a close it was left to the club’s younger development teams to enjoy some football despite the atrocious weather conditions last Saturday.
Carniny Youth Chairman Anthony McCartney presents a memento to former player Samuel McIlveen now Captain of Glentoran Seconds. U15 players Matthew Shevlin and Adam Mairs look on.Carniny Youth Chairman Anthony McCartney presents a memento to former player Samuel McIlveen now Captain of Glentoran Seconds. U15 players Matthew Shevlin and Adam Mairs look on.
Carniny Youth Chairman Anthony McCartney presents a memento to former player Samuel McIlveen now Captain of Glentoran Seconds. U15 players Matthew Shevlin and Adam Mairs look on.

First up was the IFA Soccer Development Plan to which the club’s youngest team, the Under 8s had been invited to participate in.

In the afternoon the P3s were taking part in the Ballymena Invitational Mini Soccer league on the 3G pitch at the showgrounds.

IFA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Carniny’s youngest team were one of the select teams invited to take part in the IFA soccer development plan for those born 2005. Emphasis on small sided games to encourage skill development.

Carniny were drawn in a group with Holywood, Springfield Star & Ridgeway Rovers - 3 teams from Belfast they have never faced before.

Carniny Youth 4, Holywood 0: Carniny took this game to their opponents with constant pressure and it paid off as after 5mins Jack Kennedy squared the ball to Cameron Moody who tapped in from close range.

The 2nd goal came from a Leon Graham free kick and Moody was there again to score a header.

The next was a corner swung in by Adam Douglas which was only cleared to Graham who hit a long range effort into the top corner for 3-0.

Holywood then pressed and a free kick was saved by Archie McGreevey and then cleared by Ciaran McQuillan who passed to Graham. His long range pass found Kennedy who scored when one-on-one with the keeper.

Carniny Youth 3, Springfield Star 0: Springfield proved tougher opposition but from good pressure a McGreevey pass found Kennedy who scored with his left foot. With Harvey Scott playing well on the right he passed to Kennedy who scored from a tight angle with his right.

Carniny introduced 2 subs Anthony Greer and Conlin Neill and they both made an immediate impact. Greer battled and won the ball in midfield to play a pass to Kennedy down the wing who took the ball on to square to Neill who scored a tap-in.

Carniny Youth 3, Ridgeway Rovers 0: With the conditions now atrocious Carniny took the field against Ridgeway Rovers, well respected in youth football.

Again Carniny dominated but it wasn’t long till some slick passing moves led to a goal from Kennedy from a Graham cross. Ridgeway pressed and the game ebbed and flowed but from a Neill pass, Harvey Scott scored Carniny’s 2nd.

The game was over when Moody scored to make it 3-0 from a chance 1on1 with the keeper.

All in all a great day for the lads confidence despite the terrible weather conditions and they all enjoyed this latest workout.

PRIZEGIVING NIGHT

The club will host its Annual prize Givng night on Thursday 31st May at the Des Allen Suite Ballymena showgrounds. All teams from Under 10 through to Under 15 will receive their awards on the night.

UNDER 12S NIGHT AT THE RACES

The club’s Under 12s will be hosting a night at the races on Saturday 8th June at Michelin Athletic club, Woodside Road, Ballymena. the team are raising funds for their forthcoming appearance at the Foyle cup.

Action gets underway at 8pm and all are welcome to come along and support the event. There will aslo be a raffle on the night with a Sir Alex Ferguson autographed Manchester United Shirt as well as a Liverpool shirt autographed by Liverpool legend, Alan Kennedy. Please contact David Parker 07835020446 for further details.

SPONSORED SLEMISH CLIMB

The club’s Under 13s will be hosting a sponsored climb of Slemish on Sat 1st June . The team will be hoping to raise funds for a forthcoming club trip in the Autumn.

The group will be setting off from the Semish car park at 11am on Saturday 1st June. Please contact Davy Leetch for further details 07732808858.

CLUB CONTACTS

As always Carniny are always on the look out for new players, junior or senior anyone interested in joining the club should use the following contact numbers. Coaching enquiries are also welcome and all coaches will be progressed through the IFA Coaching structure.

2009 to 2006 Davy Boyd, 07803974402,

2005 Niall Greer,

2004 - Davy Hanna 07791297755,

2003 - Jonny Wilson 07704550454,

2002 - Jason Hunter 07885899290,

2001-Davy Parker 07835020446,

2000 - Davy Leetch 07732808858,

1999 - Andy McClean 07814038368,

1998 - Billy O’Flaherty 07850669666.

Seniors Anthony McCartney, 07708822793.