COMRADES STAGE LATE RALLY TO KICK OFF CAMPAIGN WITH A WIN
Ballyclare Comrades staged a late rally to come from two goals down to defeat Queen's University in the season opener at Dixon Park.
Marc McKenna, a summer signing from Knockbreda, opened the scoring for Queen's after 21 minutes with a superb strike from distance past keeper Ben McCauley into the top corner.
And the newly promoted Students doubled their tally on the stroke of half-time after some slack home defending let Matthew Hughes in to take advantage.
Perhaps the pivotal moment of the game came midway through the second half when Ballyclare's Joe Tully came on to replace McNeill.
Queen's held their two goal lead until six minutes from time when Tully capitalised on a poor clearance from keeper Conan Doherty to return the ball into the net.
Then, on 90 minutes, Tully grabbed his second of the afternoon from a spot-kick awarded after Kyle Beggs had been brought down.
The comeback complete there was still time for Beggs to grab Ballyclare's dramatic winner when, on 92 minutes, he connected with Fra Nolan's cross to head past Doherty at the far post.
Ballyclare Comrades: McCauley, Woods, Crawford, Nolan, McNeill, C. Dobbin, Malone, McCart, Beggs, Henry, Donnelly subs McIlveen (not used), McQuitty (replaced NcCart 50), J. Dobbin (replaced Malone 56), Tully (replaced McNeill 67), Hegan (not used)
Queen's University: Doherty, Corry, Calvert, McManus, Robinson, Bonnes, Middleton, Mulgrew, Traynor, McKenna, Hughes subs O'Hare (not used), Delaney (replaced Bonnes 72), McIlroy (replaced Traynor 87), Torrens (not used), Young (replaced Middleton 74)
Substitution 
Substitution 
