Senior Teams’ match reports

Junior Shield Second round

Carryduff Colts……….3

Colinvalley………………1

Match report sponsored by Fraser Homes – Senior Teams sponsor.

Carryduff Colts reached the third round of the prestigious Junior Shield for the second season in succession with a comfortable win over Colinvalley.

Colts had a sluggish start and only for some great goalkeeping by the returning Odhran Devlin they could have been a couple of goals down early on, with his quick reactions on one double save particularly outstanding.

But Colts started to get a grip in the middle of the part and they took he lead on 19 minutes when Matty McNally fired underneath he goalkeeper following a great move. And it was two on the half hour mark with an early contender for goal of the season when McNally again finished off a terrific move with a brilliant curling shot Into the far corner.

Fergus McBride, Michael Deeny and Niall took control of midfield with the rampaging Paul Murphy on the left and Paddy McEvoy on the right ensured that Valley were kept on the back foot despite having the wind at their back.

Rory McDonnell, Sparky Hegney and the excellent Conor Cassidy mastered the defence and snuffed out any danger with that man Devlin between the sticks in great form.

Darragh Brownlee came increasingly into the game as the half wore on. And he went close a couple of times fashioning chances on the edge of the box and going very close.

With the wind at their backs, Colts were expected to come out in the second half and put the game to bet but it was Valley who pulled one back on the 55th minute following some sloppy defending.

Paul Maguire came into the game to replace Hegney who is still not fully recovered from a rib injury while Jonny Henry and Ciaran Sherry were also brought on to freshen up the attack and it wasn’t long before Henry made his presence felt.

Brownlee went close with a couple of superb free kicks before Henry put the game beyond the visitors reach. McEvoy put a great through ball in front of the big striker and he finished superbly as the goalkeeper rushed out to close him down.

Henry then created a second chance for himself going very close as he made a real difference to the attack. The second half petered out but this was an effective performance and has earned the Colts a home game against 2C rivals Willowbank in the third round.

Colts: Devlin, McEvoy, Murphy, McDonnell, Cassidy, Hegney, McBride, Niall (Henry) Deeny, McNally (Sherry), Brownlee.

Meanwhile the Seconds picked up a precious point against Finaghy II with their best performance of the season and they were unlucky not to take all three.

Man of the match Caleb Keating put his side into the lead in the first half and he could have added to his tally with a great performance.

Stu Mulligan in nets had a terrific game and made a couple of great saves but could do nothing about the equaliser which was carried into the net by the strong wind.

The draw takes the seconds up to eighth in the table and are set to climb the league in the coming weeks.

After-match refreshments generously provided by our friends at the Parador Inn, Ormeau Road.