Holders Castlewellan hope to retain trophy

14 March 2012 - by CHARLIE McSTAY

WILL the Bobby Dalzell Cup be joining Oscar in Killough on Friday night?

A fortnight after Terry George collected an Academy Award in Los Angeles for his film The Shore, Killough hope to have stars in their eyes once more.

That’s the plan for the big blockbuster final in Cheney Park, Banbridge, but Castlewellan have no intention of relinquishing their grip on the coveted trophy and they plan to have the red carpet out themselves.

Castlewellan, who beat Killough 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the Harry Clarke Cup at Mill Field on Saturday, go into the showpiece final as hot favourites, but Killough may have been keeping their ticker tape dry.

Castlewellan, who lost the first five Bobby Dalzell finals they played in, are now reckoned to be one of the best cup sides in the history of the Newcastle League and they will take some beating, but they are beatable.

Castlewellan first won the Bobby Dalzell Cup back in 1988 when they beat Mourne Rovers 3-1 with goals from Davy Hutchman, Donal

Ward and Mickey Burns. But they had lost finals in 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1987. Since then they have won the competition in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2011.

Killough won the cup two years in a row, in 2006 and 2007, with victories over Ballyvange (3-1) and Portaferry (3-1), but they also lost out to Kilkeel in the 2004 final.

History is certainly on Castlewellan’s side, but some pundits believe that if you can prevent Castlewellan from scoring at set pieces then you can beat them. Even so, it is usually not as easy as that.

The Town should be close to full strength, with the only doubt surrounding the availability of midfielder Colm Flanagan.

Mickey Watson, who has seen and done it all with Castlewellan, Drumaness Mills and Kilmore Rec, has stepped into the breach to fill the gap between the sticks left by Danny Cassidy and there are few better goalkeepers in local football.

There is no doubt that manager John Burns will stick to a tried and trusted 4-4-2 system with Barry Travers, Ruairi McArdle, Conor Stratton and Aidy Kelly manning the defensive rearguard.

If anyone of this quartet is unavailable then Castlewellan can call on young Conail Corrigan to come on and do a job in any of the back four positions.

Midfield will be manned by any permutation of four from Colm Flanagan Nial Toner, Dean Anderson, Donal McKibben, Sean Russell and Liam McKibben. Aidy Burns will definitely start up from and will be partnered by either Stevie Trainor, Liam McKibben or Daniel Morgan.

Things are not just as straight forward over at Killough as unavailability, injury and suspension could cause havoc with managers Colm Stranney and Aidy Sharvin’s final selection.

Chris Mallon will start between the sticks and should be fronted by Kieran Sharvin, Colm Stranney, Matthew McKiernan and Eoin McCavera. Tony McIlhone, Stephen Black, Freddie O’Connor. Nicky O’Connor and Conor Doyle will battle it out for berths in midfield and Gareth George and Aidy Denver should start up front in the absence of the suspended Aaron Hutchinson and the cup tied Jakie Clarke.

Killough were given a reminder of just what Castlewellan can do on Saturday and they must tighten up considerably at the back and take any half chances that come along if they are to bring Bobby Dalzell Cup back to the village.

• Anyone attending the game at Cheney Park is asked to use the Upper Bann Institute Car Park, Castlewellan Road, and walk to the venue via Laws Lane Entrance.

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