All manner of records were broken at Meadowvale yesterday as Castlewellan Town retained the Bobby Dalzell Cup. Both teams are to be congratulated for producing a decent football match under monsoon like conditions. The town came through with a 3-1 victory over old rivals Ballyvea in a rain soaked but entertaining game. That’s 3 Dalzells in a row which has never been done before and Liam McKibben picked up the tankard for man of the match for the third time in a Newcastle League final which is a first also. I wouldn’t wager that it will be his last either, what a tremendous achievement.
Castlewellan although favourites started nervously and allowed Ballyvea the lions share of possession. For all their possession though they rarely threatened the town’s goal in the first 30 minutes and indeed Castlewellan could and I suppose should have taken the lead in the 4th minute when Russell slipped a through ball to Toner but he sliced his effort badly wide. McKibben also had an effort narrowly off target when he should have worked the keeper. Ballyvea played the ball about nicely stretching the town at every opportunity but found their back four in resilient mood. With 35 minutes gone however they got the breakthrough when following successive corners Phillip Main managed to get a clean header which slipped under Mickey Watson. Moments later it should have been 2 when following another high ball into the heart of Castlewellan’s defence McConnell found himself with a clear shot at goal but he shot high and wide when he should have done better. With only a few minutes of the half left the town were eager to hear the whistle so that they could regroup but with only a minute to go they earned a free kick 25 yards from goal. Up stepped Ruiari McArdle and he blasted home the equaliser although in fairness to the keepers they would probably have dealt with both goals in dry conditions. So 1-1 at half time and definitely Castlewellan were the happier of the two teams.
You could sense that home truths were voiced in the town changing room at half time because they came out in much more positive frame of mind, they began to put their foot on the ball find their men and stretch their opponents something which they hadn’t been doing in the first period. Liam McKibben really gave the Ballyvea right back a torrid time in this 45 and as I have mentioned before was deservedly given the man of the match award. Both sides fought tooth and nail for supremacy but you could tell that Castlewellan were beginning to dominate in terms of good possession and scoring chances. With 20 minutes left the town introduced Stevie Trainor for Colm Flanagan who had worked tirelessly all afternoon. Stevie has been there and done it many times over and he didn’t let the side down on this occasion either, he was only on the pitch a matter of 7 minutes when following a neat passage of play he engineered a yard of space on the edge of the area and that was all he needed to curl a beauty just inside the post. Castlewellan were really motoring now and went for the jugular. Aidan Kelly released McKibben on the left and he beat the full back to the ball pushed it around the keeper but from an ever narrowing angle saw his effort shave the far upright. For the last 10 minutes the town brought on Donal McKibben for Sean Russell and Donal’s energy was just what was called for at that stage, he covered acres of ground in the 15 or so minutes that he was on but played a vital role in cementing victory for the favourites. It was indeed fitting that the final nail in Ballyveas coffin was scored by Liam McKibben, again Kelly played a perfectly weighted pass inside the full back, Liam was after it and it became a footrace with the onrushing keeper, both got there at the same time but the town player was just a little bit stronger and he was able to run the third goal into an empty net.
A very satisfying and deserved victory for Castlewellan who completely dominated their old rivals in the second period. The town’s management of John Burns and Aidan Kelly got their substitutions just right and what a strong bench they had! That is now 6 trophies out of the last 7 available, not bad going at any level.
Michael Watson:- Didn’t have a massive amount to do, will be annoyed with himself over the Ballyvea goal but conditions were terrible, Was vocal and organised his defence well.
Conal Corrigan:- Belied his years with a mature performance, gave the ball away once early on but learned from his mistake and didn’t put a foot wrong for the rest of the game.
Connor Stratton:- Mr Reliable was just that again never seems to get in a flap, brave and strong in the tackle and an intelligent distributer of the ball, didn’t give Mark Burden a look in.
Ruiari McArdle:- Seems to be a perfect foil for Stratts, another who is brave and strong in his tackling and was rewarded with a goal just before half time, no doubt he’ll be telling everyone who will listen it was from 40 yards out.
Aidan Kelly:- Aidy has played at the very highest amateur level and it shows, seemed nervous in the first half but played brilliantly in the second period his interlinking with Liam was key to the victory.
Colm Flanagan:- Ran himself to a standstill, was one of few successes in the first period and got in behind the Ballvea defence on several occasions.
Sean Russell:- Highly intelligent with the ball at his feet, but lack of width in the first half lessened his influence, when the town eventually started using the pitch he came into his own.
Nial Toner:- Like Colly Fla Tin Tin was one of the few to shine in the first half, worked tirelessly and should have scored early on, will be happy with his showing.
Donagh Steele:- one of the unsung heros, worked non stop and gave the Ballyvea defence no time on the ball, linked well with the forwards.
Paddy Keown:- Put in a very good shift, fed off scraps in the first half, was very closely marked and just didn’t get the breaks in the second half but will be happy with his contribution.
Liam McKibben:- what can I say that hasn’t already been said, quite rightly given the man of the match award, worked tirelessly and had the Ballyvea left back in a tailspin in the second half, deserved his goal.
Stevie Trainor:- getting into veteran territory now but still has plenty to offer at this level, could have scored before he eventually did, took his goal really well and was a constant threat when he came on.
Donal McKibben:- Was only on for around 15 minutes but made a vital contribution, was busy and ran down anything that moved in a red shirt, brave and strong in his tackles.
Dean Anderson:- only on for about 5 minutes but great to see him back after a long lay off through injury, major boost to morale.
