Cathair Friel Player Profile

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Player Details



Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
2023-2024 1 (2) 0 0 0 33.3% 0.0% 66.7%
2020-2021 3 1 1 0 100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
2019-2020 27 (8) 11 8 0 34.3% 17.1% 48.6%
2018-2019 31 (3) 18 6 0 70.6% 8.8% 20.6%
2017-2018 39 (6) 17 5 1 44.4% 13.3% 42.2%
2016-2017 43 (2) 23 6 1 57.8% 11.1% 31.1%
Totals: 144 (21) 70


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 05/09/23 Round 1 vs. Knockbreda (H) 3 - 4
 01/12/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H) 2 - 0
 24/11/20 Irish League vs. Cliftonville (A) 4 - 0
 21/11/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H) 2 - 0
 31/07/20 Final vs. Glentoran (N) 1 - 2

 Recent First Team Goals
 21/11/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H) 2 - 0
 31/07/20 Final vs. Glentoran (N) 1 - 2
 04/01/20 Round 5 vs. Crumlin Star (H) 2 - 0
 20/12/19 Irish League vs. Glenavon (H) 2 - 1
 25/10/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A) 1 - 3

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 21/11/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  2 - 0
 31/07/20 Final vs. Glentoran (N)  1 - 2
 04/01/20 Round 5 vs. Crumlin Star (H)  2 - 0
 20/12/19 Irish League vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 20/12/19 Irish League vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 25/10/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  1 - 3
 21/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  1 - 3
 07/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  4 - 0
 07/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  4 - 0
 27/08/19 Round 2 vs. Newington (H)  3 - 0
 17/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Larne (A)  4 - 2
 10/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  2 - 2
 26/02/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 1
 11/02/19 Round 6 vs. Portadown (H)  4 - 1
 09/02/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Institute (A)  2 - 1
 26/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  4 - 1
 12/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  2 - 2
 08/01/19 Semi final vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 2
 29/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Newry (H)  3 - 1
 26/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 3
 08/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  4 - 2
 08/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  4 - 2
 17/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 1
 23/10/18 Quarter final vs. Ballyclare Com. (H)  3 - 0
 13/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Institute (A)  2 - 1
 06/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Newry (H)  3 - 0
 29/09/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 01/09/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  6 - 1
 28/08/18 Round 2 vs. Dollingstown (N)  5 - 1
 28/08/18 Round 2 vs. Dollingstown (N)  5 - 1
 28/04/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 2
 23/03/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  2 - 1
 10/02/18 Semi final vs. Cliftonville (H)  3 - 1
 23/01/18 Final vs. Crusaders (H)  2 - 4
 30/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 1
 02/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  2 - 1
 28/11/17 Semi final vs. Ards (H)  3 - 0
 15/11/17 Quarter final vs. Ards (H)  3 - 2
 06/11/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  1 - 1
 28/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  3 - 3
 14/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  6 - 3
 23/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  3 - 1
 19/09/17 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  3 - 0
 16/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  1 - 3
 09/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  3 - 1
 09/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  3 - 1
 29/08/17 Round 2 vs. Knockbreda (H)  3 - 0
 12/05/17 Final vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 22/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Crusaders (H)  3 - 0
 22/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Crusaders (H)  3 - 0
 18/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Cliftonville (H)  4 - 1
 28/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  3 - 1
 28/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  3 - 1
 26/12/16 Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  2 - 0
 13/12/16 Semi final vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 0
 16/11/16 Quarter final vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  2 - 0
 05/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  4 - 2
 05/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  4 - 2
 05/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  4 - 2
 29/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  4 - 0
 12/10/16 Round 3 vs. Linfield (H)  4 - 1
 01/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  2 - 2
 01/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  2 - 2
 20/09/16 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  3 - 0
 10/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  3 - 2
 03/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  2 - 2
 30/08/16 Round 2 vs. Newington (H)  4 - 1
 26/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  4 - 1
 20/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  3 - 4
 10/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 3

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 09/09/23 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  1 - 0
 05/09/23 Round 1 vs. Knockbreda (H)  3 - 4
 02/09/23 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  0 - 1
 01/12/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  2 - 0
 24/11/20 Irish League vs. Cliftonville (A)  4 - 0
 21/11/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  2 - 0
 31/07/20 Final vs. Glentoran (N)  1 - 2
 27/07/20 Semi final vs. Coleraine (N)  1 - 1
 07/03/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 2
 29/02/20 Quarter final vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  2 - 0
 14/02/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 4
 08/02/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  0 - 2
 01/02/20 Round 6 vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  2 - 1
 25/01/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 2
 21/01/20 Final vs. Cliftonville (N)  1 - 2
 18/01/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  0 - 3
 04/01/20 Round 5 vs. Crumlin Star (H)  2 - 0
 01/01/20 NIFL Premiership vs. Larne (H)  2 - 3
 28/12/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  0 - 2
 20/12/19 Irish League vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 14/12/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  3 - 2
 07/12/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 0
 02/11/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Larne (H)  0 - 3
 25/10/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  1 - 3
 19/10/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 15/10/19 Quarter final vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 1
 12/10/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 1
 21/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  1 - 3
 18/09/19 Round 3 vs. Rangers Colts (H)  0 - 1
 14/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  1 - 1
 10/09/19 Round 1 vs. Dundela (H)  2 - 1
 07/09/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  4 - 0
 30/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  1 - 0
 27/08/19 Round 2 vs. Newington (H)  3 - 0
 24/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  1 - 2
 17/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Larne (A)  4 - 2
 10/08/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  2 - 2
 18/07/19 1st Qual. Rnd - Leg 2 vs. Malmo (H)  0 - 4
 11/07/19 1st Qual. Rnd - Leg 1 vs. Malmo (A)  0 - 7
 04/07/19 Prelim. Round - Leg 2 vs. NSI Runavik (A)  0 - 0
 27/06/19 Prelim. Round - Leg 1 vs. NSI Runavik (H)  2 - 0
 02/03/19 Quarter final vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 3
 26/02/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 1
 23/02/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 1
 16/02/19 Final vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 1
 11/02/19 Round 6 vs. Portadown (H)  4 - 1
 09/02/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Institute (A)  2 - 1
 26/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  4 - 1
 19/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  2 - 0
 12/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  2 - 2
 08/01/19 Semi final vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 2
 01/01/19 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  2 - 3
 29/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Newry (H)  3 - 1
 26/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 3
 22/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  2 - 0
 11/12/18 Semi final vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 0
 08/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  4 - 2
 01/12/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  2 - 1
 23/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Newry (A)  2 - 1
 20/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  2 - 1
 17/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  2 - 1
 13/11/18 Quarter final vs. Ards (A)  1 - 0
 10/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  1 - 0
 02/11/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 27/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  3 - 0
 23/10/18 Quarter final vs. Ballyclare Com. (H)  3 - 0
 20/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 1
 16/10/18 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  5 - 0
 13/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Institute (A)  2 - 1
 09/10/18 Round 3 vs. HW Welders (H)  1 - 0
 06/10/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Newry (H)  3 - 0
 29/09/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 22/09/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  2 - 3
 01/09/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  6 - 1
 28/08/18 Round 2 vs. Dollingstown (N)  5 - 1
 09/05/18 Semi final vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 4
 28/04/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 2
 14/04/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  0 - 1
 03/04/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  0 - 3
 26/03/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  2 - 0
 23/03/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  2 - 1
 20/03/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  2 - 1
 06/03/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  3 - 2
 27/02/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  0 - 1
 24/02/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 3
 17/02/18 Final vs. Dungannon (N)  1 - 3
 10/02/18 Semi final vs. Cliftonville (H)  3 - 1
 03/02/18 Round 6 vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  2 - 2
 27/01/18 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  2 - 2
 23/01/18 Final vs. Crusaders (H)  2 - 4
 30/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 1
 26/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 1
 22/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 2
 16/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  3 - 1
 02/12/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  2 - 1
 28/11/17 Semi final vs. Ards (H)  3 - 0
 25/11/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 1
 18/11/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  2 - 1
 15/11/17 Quarter final vs. Ards (H)  3 - 2
 10/11/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  2 - 1
 06/11/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  1 - 1
 28/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (H)  3 - 3
 24/10/17 Quarter final vs. Glentoran (H)  1 - 0
 21/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  0 - 4
 14/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  6 - 3
 10/10/17 Round 3 vs. Portadown (H)  2 - 0
 07/10/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  1 - 2
 30/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 2
 23/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  3 - 1
 19/09/17 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  3 - 0
 16/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  1 - 3
 09/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  3 - 1
 02/09/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  1 - 0
 29/08/17 Round 2 vs. Knockbreda (H)  3 - 0
 26/08/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  0 - 1
 19/08/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  1 - 6
 15/08/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 11/08/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  1 - 4
 06/07/17 1st Qual. Rnd - Leg 2 vs. Odd BK (H)  0 - 2
 29/06/17 1st Qual. Rnd - Leg 1 vs. Odd BK (A)  0 - 3
 12/05/17 Final vs. Glenavon (H)  2 - 1
 29/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Coleraine (A)  1 - 1
 22/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Crusaders (H)  3 - 0
 18/04/17 NIFL Premiership - Section A vs. Cliftonville (H)  4 - 1
 25/03/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  1 - 2
 18/03/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  2 - 4
 11/03/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  3 - 0
 04/03/17 Quarter final vs. Coleraine (H)  0 - 4
 25/02/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  2 - 1
 18/02/17 Final vs. Carrick Rangers (N)  2 - 0
 11/02/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  1 - 2
 04/02/17 Round 6 vs. HW Welders (A)  3 - 1
 28/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  3 - 1
 14/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  3 - 2
 07/01/17 Round 5 vs. Cliftonville (H)  1 - 1
 03/01/17 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 4
 31/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  2 - 4
 26/12/16 Premiership vs. Coleraine (H)  2 - 0
 17/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (A)  1 - 2
 13/12/16 Semi final vs. Coleraine (H)  3 - 0
 10/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (A)  3 - 2
 03/12/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (H)  2 - 0
 26/11/16 Premiership vs. Cliftonville (A)  0 - 2
 19/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (H)  1 - 4
 16/11/16 Quarter final vs. Warrenpoint Town (A)  2 - 0
 12/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (H)  2 - 0
 08/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Linfield (H)  1 - 4
 05/11/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (A)  4 - 2
 29/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (H)  4 - 0
 25/10/16 Quarter final vs. Ards (H)  1 - 2
 22/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (A)  0 - 5
 15/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (H)  2 - 1
 12/10/16 Round 3 vs. Linfield (H)  4 - 1
 01/10/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Coleraine (A)  2 - 2
 24/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glentoran (H)  4 - 1
 20/09/16 Round 1 vs. HW Welders (H)  3 - 0
 17/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Portadown (A)  2 - 0
 10/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Cliftonville (H)  3 - 2
 03/09/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Dungannon (A)  2 - 2
 30/08/16 Round 2 vs. Newington (H)  4 - 1
 26/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Carrick Rangers (A)  4 - 1
 20/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ards (H)  3 - 4
 13/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Ballinamallard Utd (A)  1 - 0
 10/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Glenavon (H)  3 - 3
 06/08/16 NIFL Premiership vs. Crusaders (A)  0 - 6


Biography

Profile:
Ballymena United’s top goalscorer for four consecutive seasons under David Jeffrey, Friel joined the club in 2016 from Limavady United.

Born in Drumsurn, outside Limavady, Cathair’s early football career was played out at Limavady Youths, with ‘Bushy’ representing both his county in the Milk Cup and the Northern Under-18 Schools team alongside future Ballymena United team-mates Neil Lowry and Ross Glendinning.

His Irish League breakthrough came at Limavady United, as Oran Kearney threw the 16-year-old Friel into the action for a debut against Coleraine in the North-West Cup. His early career was spent as a winger but equally comfortable as a goalscoring forward, he spent two loan spells at Portstewart in Championship 2 (third-tier) during his teenage years to advance his development in adult football.

By the summer of 2011, Oran Kearney had made the switch to Coleraine and Cathair was signed as one of several his former players recruited for his new look Bannsiders team. The teenager failed to break into the first team at the Ballycastle Road and returned to Limavady United initially on loan in January 2012 for the remainder of the 2011/2012 season.

The Roesiders struggled in the aftermath of Kearney’s departure, as with a succession of managers the club finished mid-table in 2011/2012 and then narrowly voided relegation on the final day of the 2012/2013 season. Cathair was named as the club’s Player of the Year and was top goalscorer in the former of those seasons. The club had also been rocked by a betting scandal that seen the suspension of three key players in 2013.

Relegation to the third tier (Championship 2) finally came at the end of a dismal 2013/2014 campaign for Caithair and his team-mates. However, the rebuilding job under-taken by new manager Paul Owens (with 21-year-old Friel as a central figure) proved to be one of the most successful in the club’s history. Despite missing out on promotion in 2014/2015, Limavady United enjoyed success in the Craig Memorial Cup final as Cathair earned a first winners’ medal to go alongside 15 league goals.

The following 2015/2016 campaign proved to be a breakthrough season for Friel, as his rich goalscoring form sparked the attention of Premiership clubs, including Ballymena United boss Glenn Ferguson. Cathair would bag a club-record 46 goals in one season as the Roesiders cantered to the Championship 2 title to go alongside the North-West Senior Cup and the Craig Memorial Cup in the Showgrounds trophy cabinet.

New Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey swooped to make Friel (now 23) one of his first signings at the club, and the diminutive striker made an instant impact at the club. He scored on his home debut against Glenavon and quickly formed a dangerous partnership with fellow recruit Johnny McMurray which led to 23 goals in all competitions as United won the League Cup in February 2017, the Sky Blues followed that up by also qualifying for Europe via the playoffs.

Friel’s first foray into European football (and the club’s first in 13 years) ended in a 5-0 aggregate defeat to Norweigan side Odds BK in the summer of 2017. Jeffrey’s attempts to kick the Sky Blues on faltered in the transfer window and the substantial rise in expectation meant that a top half finish and appearances in both the finals of the League Cup and County Antrim Shield was met with frustration by supporters. Despite the consistencies of the team, Cathair remained a constant goal threat with a return of 19, including one in the County Antrim Shield final defeat to Crusaders at the Showgrounds.

A remarkable turnaround in form the following season saw the Sky Blues strengthen their squad to mount a serious challenge for the Gibson Cup, McMurray had departed to Larne, but had been replaced by the equally beneficial partner of Adam Lecky for Friel to score goals alongside. Jeffrey’s Sky Blues enjoyed a record breaking 19 game unbeaten streak and led the Irish League at Christmas, but narrowly faltered to Linfield in the title run-in to finish second (the highest placed finish for the club since 1980). Friel had missed the final two months of the campaign through injury and may have been the impetus to fire United over the line, having bagged 18 goals in 34 games before that. There was also a third successive League Cup final appearance for Friel, but a second defeat in a row – pipped by Linfield in a 1-0 defeat at Windsor Park.

Friel returned to the fold in time for the historic Europa League campaign in the summer of 2019, as the Sky Blues progressed in Europe for the first time in club history, defeating NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands before bowing out to Swedish giants Malmo in the subsequent round. Cathair struggled for form and fitness during the infamous Covid-19 curtailed 2019/2020 season, returning only 11 goals as the team faltered in the bottom half of the Premiership table. The expert marksman almost single handily salvaged the Sky Blues’ season with the equalising goal in a tense Irish Cup final (delayed until July 2020) – but United agonisingly lost to Glentoran in extra-time.

The addition of Shay McCartan and Paul McElroy pushed Friel down the pecking order at United, as Cathair struggled for game-time with only three appearances (and one goal) what turned out to be his final season at the club. Transfer listed in December following a breach of the club’s disciplinary policy set the wheels in motion for a deadline day move to Carrick Rangers in January 2021 for an undisclosed fee. It sadly proved an unceremonious end to four and a half years at the club which yielded 70 goals from 162 appearances.

The second half of a 2020/2021 season played largely behind closed doors proved inconsequential for Friel and Carrick as they finished one place above the bottom of the table, without the threat of relegation. In June 2021, following the expiry of his short term deal at Carrick he was unveiled as a Coleraine player on a three-year contract – reuniting with manager Oran Kearney after almost ten years apart.

Career
(2009) Limavady United; (Oct 2009) Portstewart – loan; (Aug 2010) Portstewart - loan; (Jul 2011) Coleraine; (Aug 2011) Limavady United (loan); (Jan 2012) Limavady United; (May 2016) Ballymena United; (Jan 2021) Carrick Rangers; (Jun 2021) Coleraine

Honours
(with Limavady United)
Championship 2 (third-tier): (winner) 2015/2016
North-West Senior Cup: (winner) 2015/2016
Craig Memorial Cup: (winner) 2014/2015, 2015/2016
(with Ballymena United)
League Cup: (winner) 2016/2017; (finalist) 2017/2018, 2018/2019
Irish League: (runner-up) 2018/2019
Irish Cup: (finalist) 2019/2020
County Antrim Shield: (finalist) 2017/2018, 2019/2020

International Honours
Northern Ireland Under-18 Schools

Last updated: 6 September 2023



Debut

August 6th, 2016
Crusaders 6 - 0 Ballymena United

League (NIFL Premiership)


Timeline