Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 2-3
Carryduff 1-2
Cumann Pheadaír Naofa had their second game of this section away to Carryduff, having already met before the Warrenpoint side travelled to south Belfast full in the believe that history would repeat itself and that they would be on the way home with another facile win. Much to the shock of the blues management, this game proved to be a totally different ball game with a much more improved Carryduff side than had been anticipated. Travelling without their Captain and influential midfielder, Liam O’Connor Warrenpoint took to the field with a side that were full in the believe that they were still good enough to come away with two points.
From the whistle Carryduff laid down a marker that this was going to be a game the blues would have to work hard to win, in fact the host side were first to draw blood when some confusion in the half back line saw them waltz through for the opening point. With Oran Murney playing in goals the blues defence were tested several times and ably backed up by the ever reliable full back Mathew Duffy and Tiernan Burns the blues used this to mount their own attacks. Within three minutes a James Sweeney pass, from midfield, to Mark Campbell saw Mark strike the equaliser from distance. Two minutes later corner Forward Jarlath Donnelly, unlucky with his initial effort, saw his ground stroke flash into the back of the Carryduff net after Tiernan Kelly long range pass. Carryduff responded with a goal of their own when the Belfast side had gained possession from their puck out and a speculative long range strike into the blues goals saw the sliotar drop into the back of the net. It was Tiernan Kelly who then stood up and put daylight between the sides, when the visitors once more took the lead. With two minutes to go before the whistle Carryduff levelled matters with a twenty metre free after a foul on their goal scorer, leaving the sides tided at 1-2 apiece.
After a stern team talk the blues tightened up their marking in the second half and it was Tiernan Kelly how stood up and turned the game in the blues favour, from the throw in he gained possession, broke two tackles and delivered a perfect pass into Conaire McMahon, who had the simplest of tasks bur to sweep the sliotar to the back of the net. The blues were now in control of this game and the Cumann Pheadaír Naofa swagger returned to their style of play with half forward Ruairi McIntyre playing some fantastic hurling. In defence Ben Lock, who playing out of his normal position, had the game of his life at half back and gave his marker very little opportunities. Carryduff now found their scoring chances extremely limited with Darragh Austin and Oisín Ruane cutting out any potential danger. Such was the blues dominance in the second half that they shut down Carryduff scoring chances completely in the second half. As the game approached the end it was the fine individual skill of Mark Campbell that was him side step his opponent and plant the sliotar straight down the middle to ensure the blues took the two points from their hosts.
CPN were: Jarlath Donnelly 1-0, Conaire McMahon 1-0, Mark Campbell 0-2, Tiernan Kelly 0-1
