Owen McMahon scores a cracker
Once again Carryduff came up against what we thought would be a physical encounter with Harland and Wolff who have won their first 5 games of the season. But again we were wrong and a real cracker of a game ensued with two teams looking to play football and a real treat for the spectators. On balance Carryduff edged the first half with Midfield again dominating the play. Conal haigney first start of the league campaigned, had a real appetite for the challenge and was strong in all departments. Rory Green sweeping in front of the defense was also very strong and again Ciaran Sherry, Conor Dunlop and Daniel McCrudden were intelligent in their distribution and were busy disrupting attacks and supported the lone forward Jack Laverty up front. Jack Laverty had a tough role to play as the Harland defense was well drilled. At the back Odhran Dougan was solid and well organized with his defense, Jack Rafferty on the right, Conor Parsons, Danny Bracken in the centre and Josh Hyland on the left.
The game itself was end to end with Carryduff in attack then Harland but it was Harland who won the first 2 corners, an area we were exposed so cruelly in our first league match. But the defense have worked well in training and dealt with both corners, Conor Parsons with the first then a commanding Odhran Dougan with the second. Jack Laverty was a meance up front and put pressure on Harland defense and squared for the advancing Daniel McCrudden who rifled a first time left footed shoot only to be save by the keeper. Odhran Dougan had his own one to one to save and did it well denying what looked like a certain goal. And so the first half ended level.
Second half saw the introduction of Owen McMahon who carried on the good work of Jack Laverty , terrorizing the defense. Carryduff were now dominant , winning a corner on the right, swung in for Conor Parson header to skim the crossbar. Against the run of play Harland got a breakaway goa, but disappointingly Odhran saved the initial shot but the defender was given too much time and controlled the rebound and prodded it home from close range. Carryduff now don’t lie down and to their credit continued to battle for every ball and a moment of brilliance from Owen McMahon lobbed the keeper from 40 yards out to get a well deserved goal. Carryduff now sense blood and decided to go for it. Craig Foster was brought on for Josh Hyland and Harry Sheehan for Ciaran Sherry and wave after wave of carryduff attacks ensured.
First Craig hit the byline took it past the defenders and from a tight angle thought about shooting then but too tight looked for the pass but alas the ball got stuck in the grass and the moment was lost but the signs were good then another well manufactured move on the left saw the ball pulled back to Conal to hit a tremendous left foot shot only to the met with a tremendous save from the Harland keeper and well applauded by both sets of mentors and spectators. The another Daniel Mccrudden left foot just missed the target. But a very dubious off side cost us another goal. Carryduff tried in vain with Conal showing great skill and composure to hit another shot but was bloked. And so it ended another draw.
Unbeaten in 2 now, so roll on the league leaders St Mary’s who will find it equally as daunting when the meet us on Saturday.
Man of the Match
Conal Haigney produced a real display of end to end football and to his credit drove repeated at Harland and was involved in most of not all if Carryduff’s great moves.
Team on the day
Odhran Dougan, Jack Rafferty, Conor Parsons, Danny Bracken, Josh Hyland, Conal Haigney, Ciaran Sherry ( Harry Sheehan), Ruairi Green, Conor Dunlop (Craig Foster), Daniel McCrudden, Jack Laverty ( Owen McMahon) Subs: Ryan Doherty, Josh Moffett, Daniel Starkey