History was made on Saturday for Carryduff Colts when the U12 side became the first team since the club was formed to win a league championship.
The progress made by this excellent team was underlined by the fact that they conceded seven goals to Saturday’s opponents at the beginning of the season, but now they claimed the title by winning 3-0.
Aquinas made a real game of it and it could have gone either way in this winner-takes-all encounter, but the young Colts showed their character to claim the all important win.
Colts began strongly, creating chances in the early stages with Simon Turkington going close after good work from Caolan Cunningham.
Then Kyle Toan shot narrowly over the bar after Daniel McCrudden and Calbe Keating combined on the left to set him up.
At the other end Aquinas hit the post while goalkeeper Eoin Maguire was also called on to make a couple of good saves.
The defence also played their part and Adam McAleenan and Matthew Devlin answered all the questions that were asked of them with Michael Lawson and McCrudden equally impressive.
The game was still in the balance at half time but at the beginning of the second half Gary Wilson and Leo McGowan gained a grip in midfield.
The opening goal came in a fortuitous way when Simon Cunningham hit a half-volley from 35-40 yards which deceived the goalkeeper.
Colts then went for broke and they added a second after great work from McGowan and Cunningham, who was brought down 25 yards from goal. Turkington again came forward to hit a great free-kick into the corner of the net.
Aquinas then gave Colts a scare when they hit the post from a corner before the title was wrapped up when Cunningham received the ball in his own half, beat three players and squared to Leo McGowan to slide home.
Kevin Morgan and Owen McMahon were introduced to help the Colts see out the game and joined in the celebrations at the end.
Manager Gary Wilson paid tribute to unused substitutes Peter Duncan, who has come in and played very well, and Ciaran Sherry who has been a consistent threat all season.
Josh Hyland was unlucky not to play on Saturday as he picked up a throat infection and was unable to play, while Jack Millar and Owen McIlhenney have also played their part.
Colts: Maguire, McAleenan (c), Devlin, Lawson, McCrudden, Wilson, Keating, McGowan, Toan, Cunningham, Turkington. Subs: Morgan, McMahon, Duncan, Sherry, Hyland.
U14
Carryduff Colts 6
Shankill 4
The Colts played their last league game of the campaign against Shankill at Victoria Park.
The first ten minutes of the game was a story of missed chances for the Colts as they hit the post twice and were denied by the Shankill goalkeeper on three occasions.
Against the run of play, after 15 minutes, Shankill scored with a wonder goal from 40 yards which goalkeeper O’Neill had no chance of stopping.
Shortly after they made it 2-0. Colts responded with a cool finish from McCrea, who was playing up front for the first time this season, but within five minutes Shankill scored their third.
The Colts pushed forward looking for a second and once again McCrea was on hand to score again.
The Colts were level five minutes into the second half as Hamilton got himself on the scoresheet and it wasn’t long before he bagged his second to put the Colts in front for the first time.
The Shankill team were beginning to tire and the Colts started to dominate.
It wasn’t long before the strike force of McCrea and Hamilton both scored again to complete their hat-tricks.
Shankill scored another goal in the last few minutes of the game but the Colts had done enough to take all three points.
Colts: P O’Neill, E White, G Henderson, J Doherty (A Waddell), C Davies, R Van Merkom, E Madden, O McGowan, J Kennedy (J Carville), D Hamilton.
U13
Rosario 0
Carryduff Colts 2
The U13s wrapped up their season in style with this great win over Rosario who needed to win to claim the league title.
Rosario enjoyed the early exchanges and put considerable pressure on the Colts back four of Paddy Hynes, Ronan Lavery, Ryan Murtagh and Conor Cunningham but the boys stood up to the challenge.
Despite their early dominance Rosario were finding the Colts tough opposition.
As the half progressed the Colts settled down and began playing the better football.
The midfield triangle of Ben Davis, Daniel Coogan and Tommy Connery were finding their best form of the season with some excellent touches and neat passing.
The pace of Mark Agnew and Christopher Campbell, and the tenacity of Dylan Strong, were giving the Rosario defence problems.
After 20 minutes, the Colts got a corner on the left.
Davis drove in a hard cross that was met with a powerful header from Coogan, giving their keeper no chance.
With their tails up the Colts took control of the half as Rosario struggled to find any consistency to their play.
As expected Rosario came out all guns blazing in the second half but Simon Henry was on hand to make a fine stop on the line while at the other end their keeper had to be quick to clear as the Colts went in search of their second.
With 15 minutes left, Rosario gave away a needless free-kick just into their half.
A beautiful free-kick was floated over by Ronan Lavery to the far post and there was Coogan to score his second of the game.
If Rosario were to find a way back it was going to take something spectacular.
A firm tackle from Ryan Murtagh was adjudged to be a foul and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped the Rosario captain who sliced his shot past the post. With time running out the Colts held firm as Rosario chased the game.
This was a mature performance from a Colts side who played to a system and their strengths.
Colts: Henry, Hynes (McCann), Murtagh, Cunningham, Campbell, Agnew, Davis, Coogan (c), Connery (Mulholland), Stronge. Subs: Devlin, Reid, Doyle.
