Braid came out flying from the first whistle in this Zala Cup First Round tie, creating two early chances as a dangerous ball was whipped across the Carniny six‑yard box. Carson Hume dealt with the first threat superbly, before a Ciaran McKenna free‑kick was blasted into the defensive wall inside the opening six minutes.

The early pressure sparked Carniny into life, and they took the lead eleven minutes in. Adam Mooney found space down the right and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Matthew McComb flicked it on to Mark Lowry, who laid the ball off for Jay Peacock. Peacock created a yard for himself and fired low into the net to make it 1–0 Carniny.

Despite further pressure from the visitors, Braid struck next. A long free‑kick from the left flank on 30 minutes, delivered by captain Declan Dobbin, saw Carniny keeper Stevie Elliott only manage to get his fingertips to the kick, as the ball sailed into the net, bringing the hosts level. Carniny responded brilliantly ten minutes later. After defending a free‑kick well, they broke through Aaron Johnston, who released McComb from his own half. McComb powered forward, holding off the chasing defender, before squaring across to Mooney, who had sprinted down the opposite side. Mooney made no mistake, calmly slotting into the Braid net to restore Carniny’s lead.

Carniny weren’t finished. On the stroke of half‑time, Hume clipped a clever left‑footed lob into Johnston on the edge of the box. Johnston turned sharply, spun his defender, and unleashed a superb strike high into the net to make it 3–1 at the interval.

Straight after the restart, Carniny went on the attack again. McComb saw one effort comfortably saved by Gatson in the Braid goal, before dragging another shot past the far post. Braid then reduced the deficit on 51 minutes after being awarded a penalty, with McKenna stepping up to convert confidently from the penalty spot.

Ten minutes later, Carniny were awarded a penalty of their own after McComb was tripped in the box, but Gatson denied him with a strong save. McComb quickly made amends, producing a delicate flick past the keeper from a Mooney free‑kick delivered from the right flank, restoring a 4–2 advantage.

Braid continued to threaten on the break, but Carniny kept pressing for more. Several chances went begging until injury time, when Kundys played Johnston in down the left flank. Johnston crossed into the box for Peacock, who calmly slotted past the keeper to seal a 5–2 victory and send Carniny into the second round.