McConnell takes positives from last-gasp Shield defeat

Carrick had taken a deserved lead midway through the first half when Jeni Leigh Patterson snapped home a Julie Oliver rebound from a penalty corner.

In an unremittingly physical game, Ballymoney equalised 10 minutes into the second half and, just when it appeared both teams would have to dip even further into their reserves of energy to carry the game to extra-time, Ballymoney produced a last-gasp strike to deny the visitors.

Carrick coach, Neil McConnell, said: “The McConnell Shield is usually a tough competition for Senior Two sides as Junior One sides attached to Premiership clubs are generally more than a match for us.

But we’ve beaten quite a number of these sides over the past few years and to be honest we did more than enough to have done it again.

“I’m extremely proud of that performance and it’s no coincidence that so many of my players were so utterly dejected as they left the pitch.

“They really couldn’t have put more into it and it’s been heartbreaking for them to lose, particularly so late in the match.

“But, in spite of losing, it’s was a night of positives for us and we’re particularly pleased for Jeni Leigh Patterson who scored her first goal for the senior team after her recent promotion from the seconds.

“Its disappointing, of course, to go out of the Shield this early on but I think this is only our second exit prior to the quarter-finals in the past 10 years, so we’ve nothing to be ashamed of.

“We’re actually looking forward now to competing in the subsidiary competition, the Qualifying Shield, and if we can deliver a few performances anything like tonight, we should hopefully be a force to be reckoned with in that competition.”

Carrick Ladies’ Player of the Match was midfielder, Lyndsey McClurg.