Castlewellan hope for Dalzell Cup hat-trick

Castlewellan hope for Dalzell Cup hat-trick

19 December 2012

CASTLEWELLAN could go into Boxing Day’s Bobby Dalzell Cup final against Ballyvea without two of their main players.

A late fitness test will be given to the talismanic Dean Anderson (inset), who is hoping to play in his 13th major cup final for the Town, but Barry Travers, one of the best defenders in the Newcastle League is definitely out after injuring his knee in an accident at work.

Anderson hasn’t played since picking up a back injury back in early October against Rushlight Celtic in the Junior Shield, while Travers has been forced to watch from the sidelines after badly injuring his knee.

However, Castlewellan are blessed with a strong squad and a have a host of possible replacements lining up. Joint manager Aidy Kelly could take over at left back and young Conall Corrigan could switch to right back with Donnagh Steele and Donal McKibben battling to see who will play if play Anderson is not fit.

There is no doubt that Michael Watson will start between the posts.

Watson, who starred for both Drumaness Mills and Kilmore Rec in the Amateur League before returning to the Town, is still one of the best custodians in the business, as he showed against Mourne Rovers in the semi-final.

Some of his saves were out of the top drawer and he certainly enhanced his reputation with an imperious display of handling. I would expect him to be fronted by Conall Corrigan, Mark Stratton, Ruairi McArdle and Aidy Kelly.

Kelly, who has taken to management like a duck to water after a long career with Drumaness Mills, is an exceptional man marker, Stratton, a tough tackling, conventional centre half, McArdle, the youngest of three brothers to play for the club and Corrigan, whose dad Paul saw and did it all with the all-conquering Maghera side back in the 1980s, are a resolute unit who give away few chances.

However, they will have their hands full keeping an eye on Mark Burden and Mark McConnell, who can both make and create chances.

Sean Russell, Niall Toner, Colm Flanagan, Donagh Steele, Donal McKibben and the lethal Liam McKibben will battle it out for the five midfield positions if Anderson isn’t fit.

If Anderson does play, John Burns and Aidy Kelly have a tough job on their hands deciding who to leave out.

Paddy Keown, who also played in the Amateur League with Kilmore, is almost certain to start up front on his own, with one of the five midfielders delegated to support him. The Town never seem to have any bother scoring goals with Keown, Russell Toner, Flanagan and McKibben all natural finishers.

Strength from the bench comes in the shape of Stevie Trainor, who has that uncanny knack of scoring vital goals and will also push Keown for a place in the starting line-up.

Ballyvea are also a side with a plethora of household names.

They may have lost goalkeeper Stephen Main, centre half Colin Jones, winger Timmy Johnston and striker Davy Morris, but they are still a force to be reckoned with.

Johnny Main has replaced brother Stephen in goal and he produced a faultless display against Killough in the semi-final. The back four should consist of Keith Hanna, brothers David McConnell and Philip McConnell, sons of Stanley,  and Matthew Johnston.

Philip Main, another brother’, and Brian White should start in midfield alongside Philip Chambers and Peter Heelham with the lethal Mark Burden up top alongside Mark McConnell, another son of Stanley.