Amateurs salvage season by reaching semi-final

Last Saturday saw Carniny Amateurs player Matthew O'Flaherty play his last game for the club, before emigrating to Australia. Matthew has been a
loyal servant to the club both as a player and coach from the age of 9 and received a memento from Amateurs manager, Anthony McCartney as a token of the club's appreciation for his services over the last 14 years. — Last Saturday saw Carniny Amateurs player Matthew O'Flaherty play his last game for the club, before emigrating to Australia. Matthew has been a loyal servant to the club both as a player and coach from the age of 9 and received a memento from Amateurs manager, Anthony McCartney as a token of the club's appreciation for his services over the last 14 years.

But Anthony McCartney’s side were given a scare before eventually seeing off Junior Division Two outfit Remo FC thanks to a last-minute winner.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE

Result: Desertmartin 3, Rathcoole FC 3.

McREYNOLDS LEAGUE CUP

Results: Brantwood 5, Magherafelt Sky Blues 1; Dunloy 0, Newtowne 4.

CRAWFORD CUP

Carniny Amateurs 2, Remo FC 1: This was a very closely contested game during the entire 90 minutes, with Carniny getting the winning goal on the 90th minute.

After a good start by both teams, it was Remo who went in front on the 31st minute only to see Carniny hit back straight away with Matthew Shevlin scoring the equaliser.

In the second half, it was a matter of which defence would crack first, but this never happened until with the game in the 90th minute, Adam Whitehurst struck scoring the winning goal for Carniny which was hard on Remo who probably deserved extra time.

JUNIOR DIVISION ONE

Mallusk Athletic 4, Antrim Rovers 4: This game got off to a blistering start, with Alan Jones putting Rovers in front in the first minute, then to see Mallusk getting back level on the seventh minute.

Mallusk went in front through a converted a penalty on the 17th minute, then Rovers equalised on the 38th minute when Jonny Rogers converted a penalty.

Half-tine saw the teams level, then on the 58th minute Tommy Bownes put Antrim ahead, then Mallusk equalised on the 77th minute.

Jonny Rogers converted his second penalty on the 79th minute, putting the Rovers back in front, then with time running out, Mallusk got the equaliser on the 87th minute.

Other results: Tobermore United Reserves 0, Carnmoney FC 1; Magherafelt Sky Blues Reserves 3, Ballyclare Comrades Reserves 6; Cookstown Olympic 1, Woodlands FC 2.

JUNIOR DIVISION TWO

Results: Ballysillan Swifts 4, FC Ballynure Reserves 1; Sport & Leisure Swifts Reserves 6, FC Larne 2; Ballyclare North End 3, AFC Carrick 3.

JUNIOR DIVISION THREE

Rathcoole FC Reserves 1, Clough Rangers Athletic 0: After a bright start, Clough thought they had scored a goa when the ball went underneath the bottom of the net early in the game, but a goal kick was given.

Rathcoole took the lead on the 18th minute when a good move was finished by Steven Benson, a goal that still separated the teams at the end.

Other results: Red Star 1, Newington YC II 2; 1st Carrickfergus OB 1, Carrick Swifts 2.

JUNIOR DIVISION FOUR

Results: AFC Carrick Reserves 7, 3rd Ballyclare Old Boys 2; Krag Albion 5, Forthriver FC 2.

FIXTURES

Matches involving locally-based teams this Saturday, March 29, are:

McReynolds League Cup: Carniny Amateurs v Desertmartin.

Junior Division One: Castle Star v Antrim Rovers.

Junior Division Three: Clough Rangers Athletic v Newington YC II.