Carryduff use potent attack to kick-start their season

Carryduff use potent attack to kick-start their season

9 April 2025

CARRYDUFF came from behind to kick-start their ACFL Division 1 campaign and hand Downpatrick RGU their first defeat of the season.

The visitors got off to a roaring start, hitting four unanswered points in the opening six minutes of the match.

They continued to rack up scores in spite of the hosts growing into the contest, building a five-point lead towards the end of the first half.

However, Carryduff rallied before the break, bagging a goal and three points to close the gap to one, and dominated the second half scoring to secure the two points.

Conor McGrady opened the scoring for RGU in the first minute, collecting possession from the throw-in and carving through the home defence to clip over. 

Rory Anderson flashed wide from the restart and Downpatrick took full advantage of their opponents’ sluggish start.

Lewis Greene beat several men, ran to the by-line and fisted his side’s second point over the bar, before Anthony Doherty converted the first two-pointer of the evening from a free.

Carryduff had to work hard for their first score, but great possession play led to Conor Boyle firing over from just inside the arc.

RGU came up with an immediate reaction, finding their second two-point conversion through Matty Hardy and taking an 0-6 to 0-1 lead.

The away side may have been dominating, but they were far from flawless themselves. A number of their dangerous counter-attacks were stopped by poor passing and strong defensive work.

A Cian Clinton free and a point from Declan McArdle cut the deficit down to three, but Downpatrick were happy to keep the ball, recycle and look for opportunities to grow their lead.

Sean Bell obliged with the visitors’ next point and, once again, they began to claim the ascendancy.

A wayward Carryduff pass presented the ball to RGU, who launched a fast-paced attack and added to their tally with a Tom McNeill point.

Eye-catching link-up play from Bell and Gerdie Collins led to a goal chance and although Bell marched into a one-on-one situation, goalkeeper Mark Hynes made an outstanding save.

Downpatrick may have been on top, but it still felt that a goal could change the complexion of the match entirely.

That is precisely what happened in the 29th minute, when Rory Reilly burst through and shifted the ball across the face of goal, putting it on a plate for Joe Tunney to palm into the back of the net.

Carryduff added a further three points to their major, turning the contest on its head and snatching the lead.

However, RGU wasted no time in responding and with Doherty recording his second two-point free, they went into the half 0-10 to 1-6 in front.

The start to the second period could not have been more different to that of the first, with Odhran Sherry levelling and using his pace to run through unopposed and fire the home side back into a one-point advantage.

The two sides traded scores, leaving the game in the balance, before Clinton’s two-pointer edged the scoring in Carryduff’s favour.

They maintained a three-point buffer, heading into the closing stages, but were lucky to come away from two Downpatrick goal chances unscathed.

McNeill was first to come close, meeting Óran Cunningham’s pass and palming wide, with Hynes off his line. 

The home ‘keeper had almost enabled his opponents to score, but redeemed himself minutes later, stopping Greene’s shot from point-blank range.

Carryduff were riding their luck and while the result could easily have slipped away from them, Clinton stretched the lead to four points in the dying embers.

The victory was already in the bag when Ronan Lavery knocked the final score over from a 13-metre free and rubber stamped the full two points for Carryduff.

Both teams now hold a record of one win and one defeat from their opening two games and will be aiming to build on that next time out.