Doran’s late goal unable to save Saul from defeat

Doran’s late goal unable to save Saul from defeat

21 May 2025

CARRYDUFF made the journey to St Patrick’s Park, seeking to stabilise their season following a mixed start, as Saul looked to go one better than their draw against Mayobridge. 

Saul got the scoring underway when Justin Magilton moved up the right sideline and enabled Lorcan Harney to play it off to Gary Murdock, who side-stepped his marker and took his point easily. 

Carryduff responded quickly, with Cian Clinton pointing from play and Eoin Donnelly converting a free. 

The hosts levelled the scoring when Ciaran Harney overturned a kick-out, road a challenge Lorcan Toal and confidently fired over. 

With 15 minutes played, Carryduff pushed forward and Rory Anderson’s long pass to picked out Conor Boyle for a point. 

Cathal Kinsella overturned a Carryduff play in front of goal and fed the ball to Jack Fitzsimons, who delivered a pass for James Johnston to kick over. 

The two sides went blow-for-blow before half-time, with Declan McArdle, Liam Blaney and Clinton’s Carryduff points followed by a score from and Fitzsimons and a Harney free, leaving the visitors with a one-point lead.

Carryduff’s Conor Boyle found the opening goal after just two minutes of second half action. 

Ciaran Harney added to his tally, but Carryduff would have it all their own way for the next 10 minutes, as Donnelly, Rory Reilly and McArdle all scored from play. 

Saul had a real chance in the 46th minute, when brothers James Mahoney linked up with his brother, John, and saw his effort denied by a great save from goalkeeper Hynes. 

Carryduff swept forward from their kick-out and added a second goal through Blaney, following a through ball from Tom McCarroll.

Saul responded, with Harney converting another free, and a two-pointer from Cathal Kinsella increased the pressure on Carryduff to hold firm. 

With four minutes remaining on the clock, John Mahoney moved into a goal-scoring position, but he was forced to take a point. 

Darragh Higgins scored top-class point from play and although Saul began to sniff out a late comeback, Calum Mahoney’s goal attempt was stopped by another impressive Hynes save.

Philip Doran rammed the ball into the net in additional time, but the one goal was not enough to rescue a share of the points for Saul.

Carryduff will be glad to have secured the two points, while Saul will be disappointed not to walk away without at least a draw.

Saul: J Hazard, C Kinsella, C Mahoney, R Connolly, L Harney, R Mullen, J Fitzsimons, J Mahoney, R Connor, L Carew, J Johnston, J Mahoney, C Harney, J Magilton, G Murdock. Subs: C Laverty, C Powderly, D Higgins, O Magee, L Cunningham

Carryduff: M Hynes, O Sherry, L Toal, P McConnell, L Guinness, T McCarroll, C Boyle, M Lawson, E Donnelly, R Anderson, L Blaney, R Lavery, R Reilly, C Clinton, D McArdle. Subs: G Henderson, J Farry, R Elliott.