Junior Cup heartache for Carniny

Having exited the Paddy Power Junior Shield at the last four stage last week, Robert Young's side bowed out of the Coca Cola Junior Cup at the same hurdle, losing at the same stage to kingpins Immaculata.

COCA-COLA JUNIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL

Carniny Rangers 0, Immaculata 1: Carniny were beaten by a competent Immaculata side who are going for their third Junior Cup in a row, but it could have been so different if Carniny had taken their chances in front of goal.

As expected the Belfast side threw everything at Carniny in the first 20 minutes but a solid Carniny defence with Alan Wright, Derek Reid and Alan Gaston making telling blocks and when Immaculata breached the defence they could not beat Carniny keeper Alex McCosh who made two brilliant saves. In this 20 minute period he was beaten once but the ball hit a post and was cleared.

Towards the end of the half Carniny had two excellent chances to open the scoring when Jason Robinson split the Immaculata defence but Roger Jones could only fire wide when left clear then a Derek Reid free kick was headed on by Jason Robinson to Leslie McCaughran who had his powerful shot brilliantly blocked by the Immaculata keeper to send the teams in at half time deadlocked.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Immaculate against the run of played scored 10 minutes into the second half when Ciaran Riordan collected the ball on the right and somehow found the net with a shot across goals which went in off the far post.

Carniny spent the rest of the half chasing an equaliser with Immaculata trying to pick them off on the counter attack with what looked to be a cert goal from Chris Dowie took a deflection and hit the side netting.

ARKMEDIA O'KANE CUP FINAL

Carniny Rangers have a great opportunity to bounce back after their Junior Cup and Shield defeats when they play Abbeyview in the Arkmedia sponsored O'Kane Cup Final at Ballykeel this Friday, May 7 (7pm).

Carniny, the Holders of the trophy, must go into this Final as hot favourites especially with the fire power of Roger Jones and Chris Dowie who have tortured most of the teams in Division One this season.

At the back they have a solid back four with Derek Reid controlling his defensive colleagues. In mid field Captain Jason Robinson links well with the engine of the team Leslie McCaughran so this well drilled team should pick up the silverware.

Abbeyview are having one of their best seasons and have qualified for the Top Four next season so will be no pushover for Carniny.

They have unearthed a very useful player in Ryan Carson who has featured for the View in a number of positions this season and has been a big threat when pushing forward.

They also have quality players in Alan Cochrane, Chris Perks, Bab Murdoch and Jackie Todd, Up front Darren Houston an ex Carniny Rangers player is hammering in the goals along with Roy Robinson.

Abbeyview are a team who likes to play a passing game and will be hard to break down but the big question is can they hold Carniny who are looking to make amends for their Semi Final defeats but cup football is all about who does it on the night.

SAMMY MOORE TROPHY SEMI-FINAL

Westend Athletic 5, Wakehurst Athletic 1 (Westend won 6-2 on aggregate): This tie was delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg, but Westend made the breakthrough after 20 minutes, when David Currie made the most of some hesitation in the Wakehurst defence and knocked the ball passed the keeper.

Soon after Rab Andrews continued his good scoring record as he hit a good shot giving the Wakehurst keeper no chance.

Before the break Westend had a goal disallowed for offside, however David Currie did get on the score sheet again, when more hesitation in the Wakehurst defence allowed him to get a touch to guide the ball past the keeper.

Wakehurst started the second half strongly, and their pressure was rewarded when a shot by Jason Mitchell at a corner kick took a wicked deflection off a Westend defender and finished in the net.

Their hopes evaporated, however, when they had two men sent off in the same incident, and from then on Westend controlled the match.

Mark Watson added a fourth goal late on, before Rab Andrews completed the scoring when he broke clear to hit past the keeper for the left hand side to send Westend into the Sammy Moore Final.

SAMMY MOORE FINAL

The final of the Glasgow Rangers Clough Supporters Club-sponsored Sammy Moore Cup will take place next Monday, May 10, at Michelin with a 7pm KO and features the top two teams in Division Three - Westend Athletic and newcomers Dunloy Athletic who are both promoted to Division Two and are battling to win the Division Three Championship.

Westend seem to have the hoodoo over Dunloy as they beat them twice in the League 4-3 and 3-0 and only have to win one of their last two games to be crowned champions.

They are strong at the back with Marcus and Michael Handforth very strong at the heart of their defence. In midfield Mark Watson has been magnificent and has been the big difference in the team this year he not only is the driving force he also chips in with his fair share of goals.

Gary McIlroy and Alan Quigley make up a strong midfield which has provided the ammunition for Dave Currie and Rab Andrews to get the all important goals.

Dunloy Athletic are newcomers to the BSML this season but with only two defeats in the League all season have shown themselves to be a good side and deserve promotion to Division Two.

The strength of this Dunloy team is their ability to score goals and in striker Chris Smiley they have one of the best in the BSML as he scored goals galore for North End in Division One before switching to Dunloy.

John Paul McQuillian and Barry Murphy combine well in midfield to provide the openings for Chris Smiley while at the back Chris McLean and Darren Webb form a solid defence in front of a excellent keeper Christopher Brogan.

Two sides who are in top form and should provide an excellent Final with Dunloy Athletic trying to beat Westend Athletic for the first time this season and win a Trophy in their first season.

BSML DIVISION ONE

Carniny Rangers are storming up the Division and move into second place 8 points behind Harryville Homers with 6 games in hand after they hammered relegated Templepatrick.

The Top four places are settled with Abbeyview and All Saints joining the top two Harryville Homers and Carniny Rangers.

The relegation battle continues with Holywell looking doomed to drop into Division Two while FC Antrim, Ballykeel and Glenarm Rovers are still in the battle to avoid the last Relegation place.

BSML DIVISION TWO

Broadway Celtic 0, Waveney Swifts 1: Broadway Celtic, top of the League, against Waveney Swifts who are fighting relegation looked a banker for Celtic but to win matches you have to put the ball into the net which Celtic failed to do and were hit with a sucker pinch at the end.

Broadway laid siege on the Swifts goal but in the last minute of the match, Rodney Beggs cleared the ball upfield which substitute Darren Wilson chased and won the ball before lobbing the ball over the head of Celtic keeper Brendan Marron to collect three precious points which should keep Waveney in Division Two. Celtic can still win the Division Title if they beat Connor at Connor in their last match.

FC Penarol look like the third team to go down as they are on 27 points and Braid United only need 2 points from their remaining 4 games and Waveney Swifts need 1 point from their 2 games to go above FC Penarol.

RESULTS

BSML Division One: All Saints OB 2, Abbeyview 0; Ballykeel 3, Holywell 1; Harryville Homers 3, FC Moylena 2; Carnlough Swifts 3, Glenarm Rovers 2; Carniny Rangers 7, Templepatrick 0.

BSML Division Two: Ahoghill Thistle 4, Shore Wanderers 8; Blackstone Rovers 3, Waveney Swifts 8; Braid United 3, Seven Towers 0; Broadway Celtic 1, Michelin 0; FC Penarol 4, Clough Rangers 4; St Comgalls 5, Riverdale 2; Ahoghill Thistle 3, Blackstone Rovers 3; Michelin 0, Clough Rangers 1.

BSML Division Three: Wakehurst Athletic 1, Inver Athletic 1; Cloughmills Thistle 3, Westend Athletic 5; Woodside 1, Atletico Antrim 3; Dunloy Athletic 2, Cullybackey Olympic 1; Atletico Antrim 2, Cloughmills Thistle 4; Woodside 2, Cullybackey Olympic 5; Randalstown 3, Woodside 1; Cloughmills Thistle 5, Inver Athletic 2.

George McAuley Cup quarter-finals: Connor FC 2, Broadway Celtic 1; St Comgalls 4, Blackstone Rovers 1.

Rainey Cup, round two: Ahoghill Rovers 3, Randalstown Sky Blues 1; Templepatrick 5, Steadfast 1.

Rainey Cup, round three: Shore Wanderers 0, Connor FC 3; Westend Athletic 1, North End 2.

Ace Cup, round one: Holywell 2, FC Moylena 5.

FIXTURES

Tuesday, May 4 (6.45pm) – BSML Division One: Carnlough Swifts v Carniny Rangers; Abbeyview v Templepatrick (Forum).

Wednesday, May 5 (6.45pm) - George McAuley Cup Semi Finals: Shore Wanderers v Connor FC (Galgorm); St Comgalls v Seven Towers (Ahoghill).

BSML Division Two: Braid United v Riverdale (Broughshane); Michelin v Ahoghill Thistle; Clough Rangers v Waveney Swifts.

BSML Division Three: Woodside v Dunloy Athletic (Wakehurst 4); Westend Athletic v Randalstown (Wakehurst 2); Wakehurst Athletic v Demesne Star (Wakehurst 1).

Thursday, May 6 (6.45pm) – Ace Cup, round one: Randalstown Sky Blues v Templepatrick.

BSML Division One: Ahoghill Rovers v FC Antrim.

Friday, May 7 (6.45pm) – Arkmedia O'Kane Cup final: Abbeyview v Carniny Rangers (Ballykeel).

Saturday, May 8 (10.15am) – Rainey Cup, round two: Seven Towers v Cloughmills Thistle (Showgrounds 4).

Rainey Cup, round three: Holywell v Braid United; Carnlough Swifts v Templepatrick.

Ace Cup, round one: FC Antrim v Ballykeel (Forum); North End v Glenarm Rovers (Dunfane).

Ace Cup Quarter Final: All Saints OB v Harryville Homers (Waveney 2).

BSML Division Two: Blackstone Rovers v Riverdale (Wakehurst 2); FC Inter Stars v Connor FC (Waveney); Clough Rangers v Shore Wanderers.

BSML Division Three: Woodside v Inver Athletic.

Monday, May 10 (7pm) – Sammy Moore Cup final: Dunloy Athletic v Westend Athletic (Michelin).