Morgan Fuels Down SFC quarter-final
Carryduff v Ballyholland (Friday, Kilcoo, 7.30pm)
A SEMI-FINAL place for the first time since 2020 (Carryduff) or 2021 (Ballyholland) is the prize of the winner of Friday night’s last-eight opener in Kilcoo.
Beaten finalists in 2020, Carryduff have lost at the quarter-final stage over the last three seasons – twice (2021 and last year) against perennial champions Kilcoo.
The Belfast outfit have had plenty of time to prepare for this game. They were the first club to book their spot in the last eight after their place was secured following a nine-point win over South Belfast rivals Bredagh.
A Joe Tunney goal after just 12 seconds gave Finnian Moriarty’s men the perfect start although Bredagh recovered and trailed by just two points at the break, Carryduff hit nine second half points to canter through to the quarter-finals.
In the end, Bredagh managed just half-a-dozen points and the hard-working Carryduff defence had also restricted Glenn’s attack to six points in a 1-8 to 0-6 first round win. That performance looks all the more impressive since Glenn recovered to beat Castlewellan and Clonduff and face Bryansford in the quarters on Sunday.
While Carryduff have won both of their games with plenty to spare, there has been an element of anarchy in Ballyholland’s three high-scoring outings this year. Inspired by 1-5 from talisman Seamus Loughran, Shane Mulholland’s side came back from six points down to beat RGU Downpatrick in their opener. It finished 3-4 to 2-9.
In round 2A, the Harps ran into an obstinate Bryansford side and were pipped at the post in an extra-time thriller that finished in a 0-18 to 0-17 win for the inaugural All-Ireland club finalists.
However, Ballyholland bounced back against neighbours Warrenpoint in round three last Friday. Again they had to do it the hard way after St Peter’s went in at the break with a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.
Loughran set up his club’s first goal with a pass to marauding goalkeeper Aodhan Furlong and the Down senior contender then left three Warrenpoint defenders in his wake before hammering a shot into the net and sealing a one-point win for his club.