IFA award caps memorable weekend for Carniny Youth

The Ballymena club had already won the Regional Award and went head to head for the Northern Ireland title against Ballymoor, Sion Swifts and Fivemiletown United. The Award is a credit to all the management, coaches, volunteers and most importantly the players at the club.

The IFA/McDonalds Community Awards recognise and reward the clubs, coaches and volunteers that make outstanding contributions to grassroots football right across Northern Ireland.

On the playing front it was quite a pleasing weekend with only two losses from ten youth games.

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Carniny 7, Northend United Youth 1: Carniny started eagerly against their local rivals and took the lead when Cameron Moody passed to defensive partner, Sam Magee, who fired home a long range effort.

Captain Conlin Neill broke into the box and his shot came off the post and Greer was there supporting to fire home.

Carniny attacked again and Graham passed the ball into Greer to score his second before Northend pulled a goal back before half-time.

Carniny quickly got into their stridein the second half and a great run and cross from Magee meant Scott could score within minutes of coming on before a sweeping move from the back meant Neill got his deserved goal.

The scoring continued as Courtney passed to Graham who went on a mazy run and his shot found the top of the net and Graham unleashed another long range effort to give him his brace.

Carniny: Greer, Scott, Graham, Magee, Neill(capt), Moody, Kennedy, Hanna, Courtney

Carniny Amateurs 2, Coleraine Olympic 2: Carniny were caught on a counter-attack and despite the best efforts of Archie McGreevey in goals Coleraine opened the scoring.

Carniny started to press again and some fantastic skill by Jack Strange up front resulted in a foul and a subsequent penalty being awarded. Joel Murray’s kick produced a fantastic save by the Coleraine keeper who pushed the ball away for a corner. Ciaran McQuillan crossed the corner in and Joel Murray slotted the ball home to bring the game back level.

In the second half, Adam Douglas stepped up to strike a free kick perfectly beyond the keeper to make it 2-1 but a momentary lapse in concentration by the Carniny defence let Coleraine in for an equaliser.

Carniny: McGreevey, McMullan, Douglas, Murray (capt) Graham, McQuillan, Strange, Wylie, McKee.

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Carniny Amateurs 2, Maiden City 2: Carniny took an early lead through Joshua Balmer and the same player doubled the Reds’ lead.

In the second half Maiden city pushed for a goal and this came after 34 mins when they pulled one back.

With a couple of minutes remaining Maiden City equalised when the ball found one of their strikers unmarked and he shot past Robinson in goal.

Carniny: Farrenden, Murray, McClure, O’Boyle, Millar, Porter, Balmer, Robinson.

Carniny Youth 8, Roe Valley 6: In a remarkable opening game in the NWCDYL, Carniny emerged victorious in a high-scoring encounter thanks to goals from Ryan Clarke (4), Diego FLetcher (3) and Harry Foster.

Carniny: McKendry, Hanna, Herron, Fletcher, Foster, Condron, Clarke, Dael, Kelly.

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Carniny 7, Portrush 0: The passing, and movement of Carniny in the first half was a joy to behold, and they were duly rewarded with goals from Taylor Adger, and then a quick fire double from Striker Ross Kerr. Adger then grabbed his second before Cameron Kerr finished a beautiful Carniny move, with a volley for the goal of the game.

In the second half, Carniny extended their lead to six when Joel Telford, fired home from a tight angle before Adger grabbed his hat-trick.

Carniny: Friel, Dennison (c), Reid, McAuley, Pogue, C Kerr, Telford, Adger, R Kerr, Steele, Johnston, Surgeoner.

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Carniny 3, SOPFC 2: Plunkett scored first after Carniny failed to clear the ball, but Carniny were quick to reply when Jake White put a great ball through to Lee Lynn who finished with an excellent low drive into the corner. Carniny were then punished for their missed chances when Craig Farquhar misplaced his header and the Plunkett striker ran on to slot the ball into the corner to make it 2-1. Carniny got their equaliser when Lynn hit his free kick from 25 yards giving the goal keeper no chance to make it 2-2 at half time.

The winner came when Mearns was tripped in the box and Carniny were awarded the penalty. White stepped up and slotted the ball low into the corner.

Carniny: McNicholl, Hamilton, Farquhar, Lamont, Robinson, Simpson, White, Anderson, Lynn, Hunter, Mearns, Moore, Graffin, Currie, Scullion.

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Carniny 2, Maiden City 5: Carniny were on the back foot from the off and found themselves 3-0 down after first 10 mins. Conor Stewart pulled one back with a cool finish but at the other end Carniny conceded another two goals which gave the task ahead extremely difficult.

Carniny scored again through Dane Archer, while the other highlight for Carniny was a superb penalty save from Jake Parker.

Carniny: Parker, Ervine, Close, Winter, Campbell, Kirk, Courtney, Archer, Gordon, O’Boyle, Stewart, J Logan, Clyde, Fleming, Warren.

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Carniny 1, Derry Colts 0: The decisive goal came as Crawford came off the bench and made an instant impact and shot low and hard into the corner.

Carniny: O’Brien, Lemon, Henderson, Houston, McHenry, Little, Stewart, Marshall, Downey, McDonnell, Elliott, Leetch, Young, Laverty, Scullion Crawford.

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Carniny 0, Bangor 0: The closest to a goal was when Thomas Campbell struck the angle of the post and bar with a 30 yard screamer.

Carniny: McClean, Campbell, McGall, Galbraith, McComb, Ferris, O’Mullan, Evans, Houston, Maybin, Keenan, McCloy, Adams, Hassan.

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Carniny 0, Glenavon 1: This game also looked as though it was going to end in stalemate until, with five mins to go Glenavon were awarded a throw and the ball was crossed into the area where their striker reacted quickest to score.

Carniny: Marquess, Macartney, Balmer, Rowe, Johnston, Flynn, Killough, Platt, Price, Mairs, Shevlin, Moore, Wojtowicz, Jaworski, McCann