POOR FIRST HALF COSTS AMATEURS DEAR

Carniny conceded the first goal in the game on 8 mins and then again after a long ball up the middle beat the defence for Dunloy to score again five mins later. Goal number three saw a well taken shot from the left go in at the far post with the fourth a neatly lobbed ball over the keeper. Carniny were second best all over the park and failed to keep their shape throughout the half. Despite the hard working efforts of Adam Whitehurst in the lone striker role and Michael O'Mullan up the right flank they rarely troubled the Dunloy goal with Long going close with a header on one occassion. They conceded again on the 36th min to leave them five down at the break.

After a stern talking to and formation reshuffle at the interval Carniny were a different proposition in the second half and the introduction of young Jonny Cummings was causing Dunloy all sorts of problems in their defence. There was more committment from the Ballymena men now as they put pressure on Dunloy all over the park. Their hard work paid off when a through ball from Adam Whitehurst found Jonathan Cummings, who slotted one past the keeper on the hour. There were a few more efforts from Cummings going close and Carniny had to survive a couple of goal line scrambles themselves as the half went on. Jake Armstrong tested the keeper with a long range effort towards the end but he saved well and also the follow up strike from Dean Wright. Ultimately it was too much of an ask to take anything from the game and there were no more goals in the half but if Carniny had played the first half with the same comittment and organisation as the second then they may have taken more from the game.

Panel; Barry, O'Flaherty, Long, Greene, McClenaghan,O'Neill, Armstrong, Simpson, Hanna, O'Mullan, Whitehurst, subs, Cassidy, Wright, Cummings