Ardglass to contest Bobby Dalzell final with Downpatrick

Ardglass to contest Bobby Dalzell final with Downpatrick

20 December 2023

THE stage is set for a mouth-watering NFU Mutual Bobby Dalzell Cup final as Ardglass and Downpatrick prepare to go blow for blow this Boxing Day.

Following two chaotic semi-finals last month, those who make the trip to Drumaness for the event will be expecting even more fireworks.

The match kicks off at Meadowvale at 1.30pm and if recent results are anything to go by, this one is very hard to call a winner for.

Ardglass recorded a 1-0 victory over Downpatrick in their league fixture at the weekend in what acted as a warm-up for the Boxing Day spectacle.

However, Ardglass manager Christopher Deegan still maintains his team will approach the final with the same diligence as before, having been impressed by a multiple number of Downpatrick’s young guns.

“We learnt quite a bit from Saturday’s match,” he said. 

“They’re very quick, hard to tackle and have plenty of running in them.

“I know the players have been together for a while now and things seem to be clicking for them on the pitch.

“Nathan McShane and Josh Montgomery were particularly eye-catching at the weekend,” he continued.

“I still feel we have what is required to get over the line but as I’ve always stressed, it all comes down to whoever shows up on the day.

“That may sound cliché but it’s the truth. We have to show we are the better team.”

Ardglass enter the final with the bulk of their full squad, although they will be without the services of Ronan Deegan who is still serving a suspension for a red card against Killough.

There are positives, however, for the village outfit as club captain Caolain O’Shea could be on the brink of a return in time for the final.

The Ardglass skipper has missed out in recent weeks due to a muscle injury but has shown good progress in his road to recovery.

“He is still touch and go and hasn’t trained as much as he would have liked to,” said Deegan.

“But he is our captain and is an important player for us, so myself and the rest of the management will have a discussion with him closer to the day.”

Ardglass will hope to round off the year with cup honours while sitting perched at the top of the league standings, having recorded eight wins and a draw from nine games.

Deegan accredits the club as a whole to his team’s recent run of form and is hopeful there will be a big support to act as the 12th man on Tuesday.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported us thus far and I hope we can get one final big push to end the year on a high,” he said.

“The players have shown great dedication and are getting the results, but it’s a collective effort so the likes of the work that club stalwart Harry Walsh does is just as important.

“Our supporters, management and everyone involved with the club will play a massive role in the final.”

Meanwhile, Downpatrick coach Padraig McAteer believes his team are “massive underdogs” but that they are relishing that label.

“We have learnt from Saturday that we are still not where we want to be against these big teams,” he said.

“We are still maybe a year away from it. 

“Ardglass have many good players with a high football intelligence, they are crafty and strong on the ball so that reiterates to us just how big of a task this final will be,” he continued.

“But, there’s a good buzz about training and within the club in general.

“It’s a big cup and with us being back in the Premier Division for the first time and making the first available final, it’s a big occasion.”

Downpatrick enter the contest with no injury worries, although they still have two training sessions to get through before Tuesday.

With all things going to plan physically, McAteer stresses that it will just be the mental aspect which will need to be controlled.

“Cup finals, as everyone knows, is a one-off game and therefore everyone’s nerves can heighten a bit.

“It’ll come down to managing those nerves accordingly, playing in front of the big crowds and performing to the level that they are capable of.”

McAteer also explained how there were 16 available slots for the final panel and none are guaranteed to any player as of yet.

“The team is definitely not picked,” he said. 

“There will be no favouritism shown, it doesn’t matter if you have been with the club for years or not.

“It only matters that you are training consistently and showing us that you deserve your spot.”

He added: “I want to wish our own team and Ardglass as well a good game. I want it to be a spectacle for supporters and not a boring, safe or drawn out game – I do, however, want it to be us who comes out on top.”

Downpatrick will hope for a large support and alongside the travelling Ardglass faithful, big numbers are expected to attend.

There will be an admission fee of £5 per adult and £3 for U-18s on the day and it will also be a cash only event.