Shoot-out decides tie

Shoot-out decides tie

6 December 2023

DOWNPATRICK advanced to the final of this year’s NFU Mutual Bobby Dalzell Cup after defeating Castlewellan Forest on penalties at a bitterly cold Ballyhornan venue on Friday night.

After Ardglass dispatched of Celtic Bhoys Academy in dramatic fashion in the other semi-final the previous week, spectators may have been excused for thinking this tie would not live up to the billing.

However, those who made the trip were treated to an arguably more action-packed encounter as both the Downpatrick and Castlewellan sides gave it their all and forced extra-time before the decisive and dreaded shoot-out.

The tie was all square at 1-1 by the end of the first half but upon the restart Downpatrick came firing out of the traps and quickly took the lead through Nathan McAlister.

A fantastic one-touch sequence of passing led to Downpatrick’s third goal, which was slotted home by Josh Montgomery, and it looked as if Castlewellan had fizzled out.

But, as expected in the pre-match build-up, Forest’s ace up their sleeve, Ruairi Croskery, made his mark and landed two goals in reply – including a free-kick – which sent the contest into extra-time.

Plenty of near misses and heart-in-mouth moments followed but eventually it would boil down to the right boot of Downpatrick’s Andrew McCoubrey, as his penalty decided the tie.

It was a fast pace start from Castlewellan, who probed and attacked early while imposing their physical presence on the youthful Downpatrick outfit.

In fact, Downpatrick never laid a glove on Castlewellan until the 27th minute when Andrew McCoubrey’s inviting free-kick delivery bounced off the Forest defence and into the path of striker Seany Duggan for a poacher’s finish.

It wasn’t long until Castlewellan were level, however, as a long throw-in into the Downpatrick box wasn’t cleared and Forest midfielder Thomas Rice steered his effort into the net.

The scoreline remained the same until the interval but a minute into the second half Downpatrick’s Duggan released wing wizard Nathan McAlister, whose first time effort flew past Castlewellan ‘keeper Brian McVeigh and nestled into the bottom corner.

Less than 15 minutes later Downpatrick had their breathing space and it all began from their own defence after a series of quick, neat passing allowed the ball to be launched forward to Duggan, who again proved to be the provider, as he squared a pass to the onrushing Josh Montgomery for his team’s third. 

With half an hour left Downpatrick had to simply shut up shop and they rang in changes from their bench in hopes of doing just that.

But, this may have been premature as Castlewellan still looked threatening in attack with Sean Fitzsimmons, Scott Kinley and Ruairi Croskery proving a handful.

It was indeed Croskery who pulled his side back into contention as he cut across the Downpatrick box before unleashing a reverse shot past Downpatrick ‘keeper Ruairi Murphy.

Castlewellan now had their tails up and threw everything at Downpatrick in hopes of finding the equaliser.

Downpatrick custodian Murphy was consistently called into action and he produced multiple saves to keep his side ahead.

However, with 79 minutes played, Castlewellan finally evened the score as Croskery’s looping free-kick went over the wall and underneath ‘keeper Murphy.

With Downpatrick backs against the wall, Castlewellan tried relentlessly but couldn’t find a fourth goal.

The full-time whistle sounded to signal extra-time and during this period Croskery came closest to finding the net, only his effort went over the bar from close range.

With nothing to split the sides, penalties proved decisive as Murphy pulled off a smart save to give Downpatrick the advantage before team-mate McCoubrey converted the winner.   

Following the end of the contest, Downpatrick skipper Adrian McCoubrey, who had proved crucial in his team’s performance, reflected on the match.

“We always make things hard for ourselves,” he said.

“We gave away silly free-kicks, we go up but then we can’t seem to fully kick on.

“But we are coming together rightly, we are in the last 32 of the Junior Cup and this now, I think we are starting to come good.”

He continued: “What happens every week, is that we cannot start in the first half, but then we go in at half-time and our manager reads us the riot act and the boys come out flying.

“We didn’t even practice penalties beforehand, it’s a lottery and they can go either way so once it gets to that stage it is what it is.”

Downpatrick: R Murphy; S Holland, N McShane, G Trueman, C Farrell; Adrian McCoubrey (capt), N McAlister, J Montgomery, A Carson; S Duggan, Andrew McCoubrey. 

Subs: R Cassidy, B Treacy, J Harding, S Conway, D McKibben.

Castlewellan Forest: B McVeigh; B Travers, R Morgan, C Burns, S McCann; C Corrigan, D Gregory, T Rice, R Croskery; S Kinley, S Fitzsimmons.

Subs: P McVeigh, S Connolly, J Murnin, L Morrison, A Dornan.