It would be very easy for the town to get carried away with their winning run stretching back for 16 games, but their management will be too astute to get caught up in all the statistics. Stats go out the window in a cup final situation and after last years ‘no show’ you can be sure that Mourne Rovers will be up to redress the balance. this will be the 4th time that these two sides have opposed each other in the Christmas showpiece. Rovers won in 1981 (4-2) with Castlewellan victorious in 1988 (3-1), and last year 2013 (2-0)
Nobody can deny that the town have reached the game the hard way defeating, away from home, the fancied Ballynagross and eternal rivals Ballyvea en route to the boxing day final. Mourne Rovers while having a less stressful route to the big showpiece are more than worth their place, competing in their third big Newcastle League final in a row. Brendan McVeigh has taken over the goalkeepers jersey leaving former custodian Ronan McDowell to concentrate on managing the team. Their side is sprinkled with quality experienced players who know what it takes to succeed. The town however have nothing to prove to anyone competing in their 5th Bobby Dalzell Final in a row and also have the players who know what it takes to win. They will take the field however without Nial Toner who was sent off in the semi final and even though he wouldn’t have been playing anyway they have great strength in depth to cater for such absentees. New Polish recruit Karol Jarosinski who sparkled against Ballynagross is on the cup final panel and it will be interesting to see if he starts or comes on as an impact sub. In any event the Town management have a major task in finalising their starting line up on boxing day. It promises to be a cracking game and may the better team on the day win.
