Historic day on Saturday as Carniny Amateurs embark on Irish Cup adventure

FOR many Irish League footballers, winning the Irish Cup woukld represent the pinnacle of their career.

Now, Ballymena and Provincial Intermediate League new boys Carniny Amateurs have the opportunity to embark on the road to Windsor Park this weekend.

The club’s intermediate status makes them eligible to play in the country’s most prestigious knockout competition and they will compete in the first round this Saturday.

It is a far cry from the young club that started back in 2000 with humble beginnings at Carnhill Playing field at the top of the Carniny Road.

Over the last 11 years the club has mainly concentrated on developing Youth football players however three seasons ago, realising that boys that left the club at Under 17 level were still looking to play at high level, the club formed Carniny Amateurs and entered them into the Ballymena and Provincial League.

From there the team has now progressed into the Intermediate league and has expanded further by introducing a Seconds side to the league’s Junior Division Three.

The ‘Ballymena Reds’ will take on Amateur League outfit Saintfield Utd who currently play in Div 1A of the Amateur League. Action gets underway at the Showgrounds 3G with a 1.30pm ko and it is hoped both club members and local football supporters will turn out to cheer the club on.

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