The Bobby Dalzell Cup Final on Boxing day will be between those perennial rivals Castlewellan Town and Ballyvea after the town edged past Mourne Rovers last saturday.
A very strong wind blowing directly down the pitch was always going to make things difficult for both sides and it is to their credit that they created a decent match. With the wind at their backs all the chances fell to Castlewellan in the first period, Keown and McKibben missed early on and Russell had a 20 yard effort scrape the post. Rovers held firm though and McDowell showed why he is one of the best keepers in the league with an outstanding reflex save from Flanagan when the opening goal looked certain. Rovers as an attacking force were rarely seen in the first half and apart from a few crosses Watson was scarcely troubled. On 26 minutes Paddy Keown headed a Flanagan cross against the post and you had the sense that these missed chances would come back to haunt the town. Despite the onslaught Mourne Rovers managed to keep the game scoreless until half time.
The second period was only 2 minutes old when Castlewellan took the lead, McKibben tied the full back up in knots and sent over a cross for Paddy Keown to head home. Rovers were in the ascendency though and it was the town’s turn to defend desperately at times. Mickey Watson showed his undoubted class on more than one occasion to keep out increasingly frantic efforts to restore parity. Just as it looked as though Castlewellan had done enough Rovers equalised. With only 2 minutes of normal time remaining Stevie Doran engineered enough space to shoot and his effort fizzed into the top corner, it was fitting that he scored as he was Rovers best player on the day.
In extra time the town again came under strong pressure but McArdle and Stratton held firm with cool heads. In the second period and the dreaded penalty shoot out looming Castlewellan took the lead again when McDowell in attempting to clear a cross could only palm the ball against Paddy Keown and the ball rebounded into the net. With time running out Rovers went all out for a leveller but were caught out when Trainor was put through, it became a race between McDowell and Stevie to see who could get to the ball first, it was a contest that Stevie won and he slotted into and empty net.
So Castlewellan go into the final against old foes in the shape of Ballyvea and what a mouth watering prospect that is.
On the day the town probably handled conditions a little better but there was precious little between the teams. There is concern though over the availability of young Conal Corrigan who suffered a nasty looking hand injury with at least one dislocation, hopefully he will be ok for the squad on boxing day and the town’s management will be hoping that no more injuries occur this saturday when they take on Bangor Rangers in the 4th round of the Junior Shield.
