Carniny Youth sides get campaigns up and running

Carniny U-14 player Aiden Graffin turns a celebrates as he puts one past the Ballymena keeper. INBT37-241AC

Reds sides were involved in the NIBFA Subway NI National, Lisburn Invitational and South Belfast Youth Leagues.

The Under 12 s got off to a flying start in the Lisburn league with a 6-2 win over Carryduff, whilst the Under 13s lost out to Greenisland in their first venture into 11 a side football.

The U14s wrapped up a busy week with a loss to early league leaders, Cliftonville and a win against Glentoran Academy and finally a pleasing win against local rivals Ballymena Utd YA in the National League at the Showgrounds.

Carniny Youth under-17s, who beat Cookstown Youth in their opening National League match at the weekend.

Many thought it would be an uphill struggle for Carniny to reform their 1999 (Under 17s) to compete in this season’s ‘Elite’ National Youth League but a fine victory in their opening match against Cookstown Youth, proved the effort put in by the Club worthwhile.

It is also hoped that this under 17 side will take up the offer of a visit to the North East of England as guests of Premiership partners, Sunderland AFC/Foundation of Light.

The club are still offering trials to prospective players who believe they are of the required standard to compete at this level and those interested should contact Davy McComb 07803596967 or Ian Morton 07721596775.

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Carniny U-14 player Ben Groocock keeps infront of his Ballymena U-14 opponent. INBT37-237AC

Carniny 6, Willowbank 2: It was a fantastic team goal that opened the scoring with Ruddy finding Larkin who slipped the ball through to Fletcher to slot past the keeper.

Carniny fell asleep for a period of 7 mins at the start of the second half and let Willowbank back into the game, when they scored from a corner and a goal mouth scramble. With 15 mins left the wee reds made two subs through injury and changed their shape which made them go all out attack. This proved critical as 1 min later David Hanna played in Ryan Clarke to slot past the keeper.

The boys were now fired up and Murray then rounded a player passed to O’Boyle who set up Fletcher for his 2nd of the match. Farenden now pushed up the left caused alot of problems and he got onto the end of another Hanna ball to make it 4-2 with 10 mins to go.

Carniny never stopped when another great build up goal from defence into mid-field found Farenden again who got his second and Carniny’s fifth. And with two mins to go Hanna played in Clarke again to make it 6-2 as the final whistle blew.

Carniny: N Hanna, Farenden, Devine, McPeake, Clarke, Murray, Fletcher, Larkin, Ruddy, O’Boyle, D Hanna

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Carniny Youth 2, Greenisland 4: Carniny struggled to get into the first half and found themselves 3-0 down at the interval.

The 2nd half started brightly for Carniny, 10 minutes into the second half McMillan rose in the penalty area to flick his header past the stranded keeper.

The second goal came 15 minutes into the 2nd half from a quality corner. McMullan seized on a loose ball and fired the ball into the net. Carniny nearly equalised but with 2 minutes to go Greenisland scored to finish off the tie. ‎

Carniny: Johnston, Pogue, Telford, Dennison (C) Kearney, Knowles, McAuley, Reid, Young, McMillan, McMullan, Kerr, McAleese

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Carniny 2, Ballymena United YA 0: It was Devlin who opened the scoring after good work from Magee and then Graffin. He coolly chipped the keeper from just inside the box.

The game was put beyond sight when the ball was crossed for Graffin who finished low past the keeper.

Carniny: McNicholl, Simpson, Anderson, Young, Holland, Robinson , Lynn, Hunter, Magee , Graffin, White, Devlin, Hamilton , Holba and Groocock.

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Carniny 0, Maiden City 1: Maiden City scored the only goal from a goalmpouth scramble in the second half, after Parker’s first half effort had hit the crossbar for Carniny.

Carniny; Shaw, Kirk, Lorimer, Clyde, McDonald, Kelly, Campbell, Parker, Logan, Murray, McAllister, Woodin, Gordon, Fleming.

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Carniny 3, Cookstown Youth 2: Carniny came back from a two goal first half deficit as Peter Rankin hit a shot into the corner of the Cookstown goal.

Carniny equalised when Hassan on the left found Greer from a throw in and his pass picked out Doherty whose neat touch left Graham free to fire home an excellent shot.

Carniny grabbed the decisive next goal when Matthew McComb drilled a free kick from just outside the penalty box.

Carniny: Grant, McComb, McVeigh, Hull, McKee, Doherty, Greer, Holmes, Graham, Young, Rankin, Johnston, Stewart, Hassan, McFall,