Rostrevor - v - Carryduff Páirc Esler, Newry 5.00pm Saturday 6th December 2014
Carryduff Under-21s put in a titanic second half to wrestle their half time advantage and the under-21 'B' Championship title from a fancied Rostrevor outfit in Páirc Esler on Saturday evening. In an outstanding defensive display Carryduff worked tirelessly for each other  and effectively starved the Rostrevor forward line of possession and scores.
The first half had opened promisingly enough for Carryduff. Despite influential corner -forward Seán McGonigle picking up an early yellow card in the first minute of play, Carryduff had all the opening pressure, Ryan McKee missing the target (2nd) before James Giuinness (4th) and McGonigle (5th) pointed for Carryduff. As the tempo increased Rostrevor full-back James Rice picked up a yellow card (6th) for a mis-timed tackle.  Conor Doyle opened Rostrevor's account in the 9th minute of play. Jack Brennan restored Carryduff's advantage a minute later and James Guinness was unlucky in the 12th minute, his high shot drifting wide of the target.
Rostrevor's challenge erupted into life in the 15th minute - as the Carryduff defence drifted to the left hand corner of the pitch to marshal danger-man Caolan Mooney, the ball was played across the Carryduff goalmouth where keeper Mark Hynes had been left exposed by lack of defensive cover. Lee Clerkin rose to fist the incoming ball to the net and Rostrevor were suddenly a point to the better. However, they failed to capitalise on other opportunities that presented, both Caolan Mooney (16th) and Conor Doyle (17th kicking wide when pressured by the Carryduff defence.
Some excellent work by Carryduff keeper mark Hynes effectively kept Carryduff in the game at this stage - twice, under pressure,  he left his line and confidently used both fists to dispatch high dropping ball far outfield and keep Rostrevor's challenges at bay. James Gunness had an opportunity to level affairs in the 21st minute but unfortunately screwed his shot wide. Caolan Mooney's 25th minute point gave Rostrevor a two point advantage but Guiness's point (26th) kept Carryduff very much in touch. As the pace of the game intensified, Carryduff midfielder Peter Lavery picked up a yellow card. Guiness and McGonigle both missed opportunities for Carryduff and Lee Clerkin's last minute point gave Rostrevor a two point advantage at the break on a scoreline of;-
Rostrevor 1-03  Carryduff 0-04.
Carryduff decided to stay on the pitch in the evening drizzle to figure out their second half game-plan.  And figure it out they did!
They opened the second half throwing everything into attack and picked off a succession of points from Guinness (31st and 35th), McKee (32nd). McKee drew a fine save from Rostrevor netminder Aidan Magee in the 37th minute, the keeper deflecting his shot over the crossbar.
Caolan Mooney converted a free in the 38th minute for Rostrevor but otherwise a disciplined and miserly Carryduff defence kept order, starving the Rostrevor forwards of possession. McKeever, Cassidy and Mc Connell defended stoutly and McGrady and McGarth worked feverishly along the wings to translate Carryduff' defensive possession into attack after attack. Darragh Connolly's point (43rd) put Carryduff two in front.
Carryduff's mettle was really tested when one of their promising attacks went awry as a consequence of sloppy passing. Rostrevor broke upfield and, at the end of a sweeping passing movement, substitute Piaras Kane finished to the Carryduff net to give Rostrevor the narrowest of advantages. The game could have swung either way from this point but Kane missed An opportunity to add to Rostrevor's account 52 minutes in.  Carryduff, working hard for each other in all areas of the field grasped their opportunities. Connolly kicked wide in the 47th minute but converted frees from McGonigle (48th) and Guinness (53rd) gave Carryduff back the initiative.
From the Rostrevor kickout, Carryduff midfielder Peter Lavery rose above everyone else to collect vital possession and, having drawn defenders to himself, picked out McGonigle who beat a number of defenders and finished clinically to the Rostrevor net in the 54th minute.
In the frantic battle for possession Lavery, having excelled was dismissed from the field of play with six minutes left on the clock for a frontal challenge. However, Carryduff refused to be knocked off their stride and a tenacious and miserly Carryduff defence absorbed all that Rostrevor threw at them, breaking from defence with ready support showing across the pitch. What attacks Rostrevor did muster were met with confidence and the last score of the game was taken by James Guinness as injury time was played out and Carryduff claimed the title on a scoreline of Carryduff 1-12 Rostrevor 2-04.
Full credit to a determined Carryduff outfit whose hunger for this game and belief in themselves brought them a well earned result.
The Carryduff team was;- Mark Hynes, Donal McKeever, Conor Cassidy, Ronan McGrady, Michael McGrath, Conor McFlynn, Paddy Mc Connell, Peter Lavery, Matt Grimley, James Lawlor, Jack brennan, Darragh Connolly, James Guinness, Ryan McKee, Sean McGonigle.
Substitutes;- Shea Reilly (for McConnell, 40), Tom Grimley (for Lawlor, 45), Rory McGrath (for Connolly, 56), Paddy rice, Seamus McCann, Ruairi Boyle, James Artherton.
The Rostrevor team was;- Aidan Magee, Pearce Magee, James Rice, Nicky Murray, James Donaghy, Liam Fegan, Gareth Caulfield, Declan ryan, Darren McIhannaigh, Sean Cooper, Conor Doyle, Conall Gordon, Joe Morgan, Lee Clerkin, Caolan Mooney.
Substitutes;- Thomas Mulholland (for Ryan, 35), Piaras Kane (for Caulfield, 45), Christopher Connolly (for Mooney, 53), Aidan ryan (for Mulholland, 55), Ronan McAteer, Jordan Fegan, Aaron Fegan, Arghal McMahon, Patrick Morgan, Damien Keenan, Cormaic McGrath, Martin Grant

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