Festive showdowns

Festive showdowns

17 December 2014

DOWNPATRICK FC are hoping to get a monkey off their back when they take on Ards Rangers in the Border Cup final at Seaview on Saturday, December 27.

The county town outfit have lost their last five cup finals and would dearly love to get their hands on some silverware.

They will be up against it, though, as Ards Rangers are the pace setters in the Amateur League Premier Section and reckoned by many as the beat team around.

Downpatrick are struggling with injury worries over skipper Mark Curran and playmaker Conor McKenna, both with knee problems, but other than that, they will be at full strength.

Twenty-four hours earlier holders Castlewellan take on Mourne Rovers in the Bobby Dalzell Cup final in a repeat of last year’s decider with the Town bidding to win five in a row.

Castlewellan beat Ardglass Swifts 6-2 on Monday night at Assumption Grammar School with Mourne Rovers beating Rossglass County 3-2 at Bear Park, Newcastle, on Saturday.

However, the feast of festive football finals kicks off on Christmas morning at Seaview when Carrick Rangers and Harland & Wolff Sport battle it out for the Steel & Sons Cup. Local interest here is focused on Carrick’s Aidan Watson from Killyleagh.

Watson previously played for Ballymena United and Crusaders and a Steel and Sons winners’ medal would do nicely for a wee Christmas present.

Attention then turns to Boxing Day and the Bobby Dalzell Cup decider.

Castlewellan are on the crest of a wave at the minute and a 2-1 away win over Portavogie Rangers on Saturday puts then through to the last 16 of the Junior Shield, a competition they have set their hearts on.

They are already through to the last 32 of the Junior Cup and they now face Ardoyne WMC for a place in the last 16 on Saturday, January 10.

The management team of John Burns, Aidy Kelly and Charlie Trainor know that the club slipped up in search of a Newcastle League treble last season when Tollymore beat them in the quarter-finals of the Harry Clarke Cup and they see the Bobby Dalzell as the first step to making up for that reversal.

It is a testament to the club’s strength in depth that they have been able to overcome the loss of ‘keeper Mickey Watson, Ruari McArdle and Dean Anderson as they step up their challenge for silverware.

Mourne Rovers, who lifted the Harry Clarke Cup last season, will be no pushovers.

Manager Ronan McDowell has an extremely talented and experienced squad at his disposal and they are running into a nice vein of form in time for the final.

Rovers’ strength lies in their physicality, power and athleticism. From ‘keeper Brendan McVeigh, another Down GAA star, to striker Connaire Harrison, Rovers are blessed with big, strong, powerful players, who are all more than confident on the ball.

A back four of Ciaran O’Hare, Ruari Doran, the immensely experienced Raymond Clarke and Noel McArdle gave little away.

They were a bit over confident against Rossglass on Saturday and conceded two soft goals, but they wont do that against Castlewellan.

Neil Doran, who runs the show for them in the middle of the park and likes to play the ball on the deck — where it should be — is an influential figure for Rovers and his battle with Castlewellan’s midfield unit should be one of the game’s highlights.

Sean McManus has been a revelation in his role alongside Neil Doran and he Ryan Clerkin, Mark Trimble and Ryan Kelly put in the hard yards which enables danger man Connaire Harrison to play a central role up front on his own.

However, give Rovers a sniff of a chance then any one of the five midfield players and even Ruari Doran and Noel McArdle get into the box in support.

The multi-talented Rory Burns has taken over in goal from Mickey Watson for the Town. There is no better young player in the league than the former GAA county minor footballer and hurler.

Burns was unable to play against Ardglass Swifts in the semi-final at Assumtpion Grammar School, Ballynahinch, on Monday night.

He is a great shot stopper, faultless in the air and as brave as they come.

He should be fronted by Barry Travers — for quite a few years now the best right back in the Newcastle League — Conor Stratton, the highly impressive John Clarke, who will be playing against a few of his GAA club mates, and Donal McKibbin or Conall Corrigan.

Castlewellan have a plethora of players to choose from for midfield roles. Definitely out will be Nial Toner after he was sent off in the semi-final win on Monday night, but picking three from Luke Toner, Donagh Steele, Daniel Morgan, Sean Russell, Donal McKibbin and Liam McKibbin still won’t be easy.

Morgan and Liam McKibbin can also play up front and throw in the highly consistent Stevie Trainor and Aidy Burns — two real predators — and you have a lethal strike force that will take some stopping.