Carniny, making four injury enforced changes to Saturday's starting eleven, were seeking to cure their title hangover in this semi final against Second Division bound Ballykeel. Willie Barr had a strong side selected and his men would turn out to be no pushovers for the dethroned champions.

Much of the first half play would fall into the category marked scrappy as Carniny rarely got any sort of rhythm going from their midfield as Waddell and Bamber found themselves seeing little time on the ball thanks to the efforts of Jordan Kenny and Daniel Boyd.

Gareth Mott created an early chance for Carniny when his strong run and cross to Aaron Wilkinson saw him miss a glaring opportunity in front of goal. As always Frazer Young was providing a threat for Carniny and it was neat link up play between the 17 year old midfielder and Mo McDowell which led to the game's opening goal finished by left back Stephen Greene who had made a late run to the back post to get on the end of McDowell's searching cross.

Carniny doubled their lead as half time approached when Wilkinson had time to deliver a cross of great precision matched by the immaculate timing of Gareth Mott's leap to head the ball into the top corner of the net. As half time came and went the game continued on it's error strewn path until a ten minute hold up due to an injury sustained by Jordan Kenny which would later be confirmed as a broken arm.

Ballykeel seemed less affected by the stoppage as Daniel Boyd set about taking control of the midfield area in an effort to bring front men Magill and Bonnes into play. Carniny woke from their slumber briefly for Wilkinson to come close once again when his first time effort from McDowell's diagonal pass was well saved by Watson.

The game came alive again in the 75th minute when slackness in the Carniny defence allowed Ballykeel to pull a goal back keeping the tie alive right up until the closing minutes when McCosh had to make a smart save down to his right to avoid extra time.Carniny will attempt to shake off their lethargy with a visit to Clough on Thursday night before taking on Harryville Homers in their third knockout final of the season on Monday night at The Phoenix.