Friday night win proves highlight for Carniny Youth sides

Carniny Youth Under 17s kicked off a largely disappointing weekend for club sides with a win when they beat Limavady Youth by a single Tyrone Balmer goal on Friday night.
Carninys Mark Winter tumbles with his Loughgall opponent as they compete for the ball. INBT44-215ACCarninys Mark Winter tumbles with his Loughgall opponent as they compete for the ball. INBT44-215AC
Carninys Mark Winter tumbles with his Loughgall opponent as they compete for the ball. INBT44-215AC

It was double derby day for the Under 10s as both the Youths and Amateurs played teams from Ballymena Utd YA. The Youths played out a real goal thriller with Ballymena, narrowly losing out by the odd goal in eleven, a great advert for local youth football. The Amateurs had a convincing win over their Ballymena opponents with a double hat trick from Leon Graham.

The remainder of the club teams lost out to their respective opponents at the weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The club would like to wish a speedy recovery to Under 15 player, Ronnie Marshall who sustained a serious facial injury during their match with Ballinamallard at the weekend.

UNDER-10

Carniny Youth 5, Ballymena Utd YA 6: This was a game that was excellent for the spectators to watch with both Carniny and Ballymena starting very brightly with both teams creating chances. It was Ballymena who converted their early efforts and sailed into a two goal lead.

Carniny however did not give up and pulled a goal back after great work by Cameron Moody put jack Kennedy through and he made no mistake with his finish. Carniny then equalised after Kennedy raced through from a Kenzie McMullan long ball and sent an unstoppable shot into the corner to make it 2-2.

Carniny continued to press but were caught by two Ballymena goals on the counter attack to see them go in 4-2 at half time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The second half saw Ballymena grow in confidence and should have gone further in front but found Jack Strange in the Carniny goal in fine form pulling off a number of brilliant point blank saves.

Carniny then pulled a goal back this time Kennedy sent Cameron Moody clear and he calmly slotted his shot past the keeper. Ballymena then scored twice more to go 6-3 ahead.

Instead of Carniny’s heads dropping they rallied forward again through the excellent moody and he pulled another goal back to make it 6-4. Straight from the kick off Moody stole the ball and ran through and drilled a wonderful strike into the bottom corner to complete his hat trick and make it 6-5.

This set up a great end to the game but unfortunately Carniny could not find the equaliser.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carniny: Strange, Courtney, Scott, McMullan, Moody, Murray, Kennedy, McQuillan, White.

Carniny Amateurs 7, Ballymena Town 1: Carniny settled quickly and were in front early when a nice lay off by Douglas played in Leon Graham who finished well to put Carniny one up. Graham playing up front then dispossessed a Ballymena defender and slotted home his second of the game.

Following a corner Carniny were awarded a penalty and Leon Graham slotted it past the keeper to secure his hat trick.

Carniny kept up the pressure and Anthony Greer breaking from the back was unlucky when his shot came back off the crossbar. Ballymena failed to clear and Graham was again on hand to cheekily back heel the ball into the net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Four up Carniny kept pressing and won a corner. Lewis McKee produced a great cross right onto Graham’s head and he directed the ball past the Ballymena keeper.

Sam Magee was working tirelessly in midfield and his pass again found Graham whose strong shot hit the net to make it six.

Ballymena started better following the goal and won a free kick which was strongly defended and Carniny on the counter attack again found Graham. His shot was saved by the keeper but an alert Lewis McKee was on hand to turn the ball home.

Carniny made some changes at half time with Wylie slotting into defence for Francey. Second half and a long range effort from Sam Magee flew past the keeper to make it 8.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The final goal for Carniny came direct from a corner taken by Lewis McKee whose cross deceived the keeper and found the far corner of the net. Ballymena came back and pushed forward more and got their reward when a quick counter attack saw them break and score.

Carniny had a few late chances but Ballymena’s keeper prevented any further goals. A superb performance all round from all the wee Amateurs today and a well deserved result against local rivals Ballymena.

Carniny: McMullan, Greer, Francey, McKee, Magee, Douglas, Graham, Wylie.

UNDER-11

LBYL Shield result: Carniny Youth 0, Portadown Youth 6.

NWCDYL result: Carniny Amateurs 2, Limavady Youth 4.

UNDER-12

Carniny Youth 0, St Patrick’s 3: St Patrick’s claimed the spoils in a close match in the South Belfast league to keep up their unbeaten record.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St Pats scored their first within the opening minute to take the lead. Carniny then had an equaliser ruled out by the referee for an apparent offside. The St Pats keeper also saved well on a couple of occasions.

Carniny started well in the second half but St Pats nicked a second goal after a defensive mix up.

Carniny piled on the pressure to get a breakthrough but just couldn’t find a goal. St Pats then capitalised on the counter with a 3rd which looked suspiciously offside.

Overall a good performance from the young side for which they can be proud against a top team.

UNDER-14

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carniny Youth 2, Loughgall Youth 3: Carniny started very brightly and had Loughgall on the back foot. Hemphill had a couple of chances but was unable to convert.

Carniny opened the scoring when McKitterick hit a lovely strike gave the keeper no chance.

Carniny were now on top and soon doubled their lead McKitterick again with another tidy finish. Loughgall pulled one back after a sloppy clearance. Loughgall equalised from penalty spot.

It was a very equal game in the second half with both sides having chances to take the lead. As the game was in the closing stages it seemed both sides were going to end with a point only for a looping shot from Loughgall with wind carrying the ball on into the net. Heart break for Carniny, who deserved more from the game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carniny: McAllister, Kirk, Clyde, Winter, Gordon, Fleming, Close, Campbell, Moag, McKitterick, Hemphill, McDonald, Parker, Courtney.

UNDER-15

NIBFA Subway National League result: Carniny Youth 0, Ballinamallard Utd Youth 3.

UNDER-17

Carniny Youth 1, Limavady Youth 0: On Friday evening Carniny U17s travelled to Greysteel to play Limavady U17s in the NIBFA Subway National Youth League.

Carniny started well and on seven minutes forced a corner and a great cross into the Limavady penalty area by Josh Graham was met by Tyrone Balmer whose powerful header went high into the net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After the goal Limavady came more into the game and with pacey players in midfield they created a number of chances which were either dealt with by Owen Marquess in the Carniny goal or were off target. Tyrone Balmer then had a shot which the Limavady keeper did well to save.

Near the end of the first half Limavady had a man sent off for foul play and Carniny had a goal disallowed.

In the second half Carniny were playing against the wind but resolute defending kept the Limavady attackers at bay.

Carniny striker Shane McKernan who was having an excellent game created two chances for himself when first his shot was deflected wide and then he saw a shot go narrowly over the Limavady cross bar. As Limavady pushed for an equaliser Carniny were always very dangerous on the break.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Late in the game Limavady had a few long range shots which Owen Marquess in the Carniny goal was able to deal with.

This was a good hard working team performance by Carniny who battled all through the game to earn a 1-0 win.

Carniny: Marquess, Calderwood, Bunting, McCartney, McComb, Price, Graham, Killough, O’Mullan, Balmer, McKernan, Jaworski, Doherty, Weir, Letters, Millar.

Related topics: