Carryduff Colts are in four-horse title chase

Carryduff Colts are in four-horse title chase

5 March 2025

THE race for the Division 2B title looks set to be a four-horse race after Carryduff Colts signed themselves back into contention with a hard-fought win over league leaders Ulster University.

Carryduff entered the clash as second favourites and although they were put under the cosh, their counter-attacking football was enough to see them close the gap on this week’s opponents and ramp up the pressure on fellow challengers Newhill and Celtic Bhoys. 

The Colts stole an early march on UUJ, opening the scoring through a classy Rory Timoney goal, and required backs-to-the-wall defending to keep their noses in front before half-time.

The visitors were relentless in their attacking endeavours, but they required a moment of sheer brilliance from Dylan Magill to even the scoring.

A brace from home substitute Fintan Farnan launched his side to within touching distance of victory and despite Sean Walsh giving UUJ late hope, the hosts successfully navigated the dying moments to come away with a huge three points.

The early action indicated it was going to be one of those long afternoons for Carryduff, with their defence coming under constant pressure and goalkeeper Patrick MacFarlane being put through his paces.

It took just four minutes for UUJ’s Oran Johnston to threaten the home goal, latching on to a defence-splitting lob from Joel O’Hara and forcing MacFarlane to make an aerial save.

He was running rings around the Colts’ backline and while he soon found space for another goal-scoring chance, he came out second best against Macfarlane once again.

UUJ may have been dominating, but they were left to rue their wasted chances when the home side snatched the lead against the run of play.

Odhran Sherry played a searching pass over the top of the away defence and Timoney used his pace to steam in, lift the ball over the head of ‘keeper Paul McStravick and poke into the open goal.

Many a team would have been rattled by conceding in the midst of what appeared to be full control of the game, but UUJ were completely unfazed and continued with their game plan.

Walsh battled his way through the box and delivered the most inviting of balls across the face of goal.

While even the slightest of touches would surely have resulted in an equaliser, no one was there and the striker was left baffled as to how his efforts were left in vain.

Carryduff failed to learn any lessons from the dangerous UUJ attacks that had luckily gone astray and their opponents showed no signs of slowing down.

O’Hara whipped a precise cross towards Walsh, who directed a header goalwards and would have squared the match, was it not for Joseph Sweeney deflecting over with a diving header.

Minutes later, a wayward clearance landed at the path of Johnston, an unrelenting attacking force, who attempted to finish first time and forced MacFarlane to palm over the by-line.

The resulting corner caused a scramble in the box and when Taylor Lewis’s directed a ferocious strike towards goal, Paul Murphy threw himself at the ball, producing a vital block.

UUJ were left scratching their heads at the lack of goals and were further frustrated when Walsh capitalised on a MacFarlane mistake and finished into the empty net, only for the referee to signal a delayed offside decision.

With half-time looming, it was the Colts that came closest to finding the second goal of the game, with Luke Holden’s free kick forcing McStravick to pluck the ball away from the top corner.

The second half started in a significantly slower fashion than the first, with a distinct lack of chances coming to the fore.

It seemed as though a moment of magic or a mistake was going to be needed for UUJ to earn their way back into the match, and that is precisely what happened when Magill hit a goal of the season contender in the 61st minute.

A headed clearance sat up perfectly in front of him and he took it first time on the half-volley, sending an outside-of-the-boot strike flying into the top corner.

The away side’s joy was short-lived however, as Carryduff introduced Farnan in a move that completely changed the flow of the game.

He made an instant impacting, meeting a well-timed pass from Sherry and keeping his composure to ride a challenge and slot the ball home for a 2-1 lead.

He was in the right place at the right time yet again, 10 minutes later, giving the ‘keeper no chance with a powerful, left-foot volley.

The result seemed to be sewn up as time drew to a close, but nothing is a given in football and with Walsh bundling a free kick over the line in the 90th minute, it was game on in stoppage time.

The hosts were intent on keeping a hold of possession from the restart, ensuring they did not succumb to any late attacks and frustrating their opponents for one final time. 

Carryduff Colts are now well and truly in the hunt for the championship, and promotion, sitting just two points behind the top spot, but face stiff competition the teams around them.

Carryduff Colts: P MacFarlane, P Murphy, L Holden, F O’Kane, J Sweeney (captain), R Maguire, T McCullough, J Rafferty, R Timoney, O Sherry, J Davitt. Subs: F Farnan, C King, C Duffy.

Ulster University: P McStravick, S Lewis, J Craig, T Green, R Spiers, D Magill, M Dundas, J O’Hara, S Walsh (captain), O Johnston, T Lewis. Subs: S D’Arcy, D Lemahieu, J Ellisie.