Carryduff Colts kicked of the new season in a new division having got promoted last year form the Second division and met Celtic Boys who were demoted form the Premier division.
A tough and hard hitting game was expected but to the contrary a great game of football ensued. A nervous Carryduff were on the back foot with a confident Celtic boys taking command. A difference in class was evident by the crisp control and passing of the boys in Green and White hoops. However, Carryduff began to show why the had such a great season last year and the belief started to grow. The back four of Jack Rafferty on the right Danny Bracken and Conor Parsons in the middle and Josh Hyland though under pressure began dominating the play and were now able to play with more control. Unfortunately a sloppy goal form a corner gave the lead to Celtic Boys. The game continued much in the same vein but Carryduff started to make their own chances. The midfield of Conal Haigney, Ciaran Sherry, Rory Greene and Conor Dunlop were pressing hard and caused Celtic boys to make mistakes. Harry Sheehan playing as the lone striker with Daniel McCrudden playing off him began to see more of the ball and began stretching the CelticBoys defence eventually leading to a Conor Dunlop shot which was narrowly wide.
Celtic Boys were a real threat and Carryduff Conceded a corner and unfortunately nothing sloppy about the second goal as a beautiful Corner was met with venom by the Celtic Boys number 8, all we could do was applaud a wonderful header. We know as coaches that we have a lot to work on as such corners were rare in the second division, First division football is a real step up.
And so the half drew to a close , Owen McMahon joined the frey in the second half for Conal who was struggling with a remnants of a cold and pounced onto an over confident goal keeper and disposed him wide on the right and hit his shot narrowly wide. Celtic Boys had a great first touch but could not penetrate as Carryduff’s defence and midfield were now very solid. With only one solitary chance in the second half getting through , Odhran Dougan in goals was equal to the task.Ryan Doherty came on for Rory Greene who had a busy week winning a tough midweek final, and Daniel Starkey coming on for Harry Sheehan, who had put a shift in up front, and Craig Foster for Conor who man marked their best player out of the game.
It was all Carryduff now with their passing game which was superb, constantly getting round Celtic Boy’s defense with both Craig and Daniel McCrudden and Daniel Startkey inches away from getting goals back, but credit to the celtic Boys defenses and goal keeper putting in timely tackles to deny Carryduff.
Very pleased with the performance but a disappointing result. Man of the match was awarded by both Coaches to Ciaran Sherry who was very busy in midfield harrying the Celtic boys midfield and helping out his defense when needed.