Trebles all round for Castlewellan

16 May 2012 - by Charlie McStay

A SOLITARY strike from sharpshooting Aidy Burns handed Castlewellan the Harry Clarke Cup at Meadowvale, Drumaness, on Friday night.

It was a goal to remember for Burns as it also secured the treble for Castlewellan and left Ballyvea wondering what might have been.

They will never get a better chance to beat Castlewellan. The Town lost the services of skipper Dean Anderson at the end of the first half and Burns later on through hamstring injuries and had Nial Toner only operating on half power in the middle of the park.

But Ballyvea were unable to take advantage. They missed a first half penalty and seemed to lack belief and conviction that they could actually win the game.

This lack of conviction was crucial as the Town held firm at the back and although far from their best, did enough to pick up their third piece of silverware in two months.

Castlewellan started with their usual diplomacy and tried to batter Ballyvea senseless with a series of lightening-quick attacks that had their opponents scuttling all over the place.

However, Ballyvea refused to be intimidated and slowly started to settle down.

That was their first mistake as Castlewellan hit them just when it looked as if they had weathered the opening storm. Barely nine minutes had been played when Conor Stratton, who was a colossus at the back for Castlewellan, beat Mark Burden to the ball inside the Town half.

He immediately switched the ball out wide right to Burns. The big striker, who has a knack of scoring cup final goals, turned Philip Main inside out and hit a corkscrew of a shot that went in off the post from a good 25 yards out.

Out of the blue, Ballyvea then took control of the game as Castlewellan were suddenly put on the back foot and that they did not like.

Goalkeeper Michael Watson (inset) made a superlative save to deny Geoffrey Stewart in the 17th minute and a minute later was in the thick of things when he saved Burden’s penalty after Stratton was adjudged to have pulled Mark McConnell back in the box.

Ballyvea continued to pose questions, but they were unable to breach a stoic Castlewellan defence and with 32 minutes gone Liam McKibben wasn’t too far away after the Town launched a devastating quick counterattack.

Stratton came to Castlewellan’s rescue three minutes after the break when he produced a timely interception to deny Matthew Johnston a clear shooting opportunity.

Two minutes later David Morris created a bit of space inside the box, but his well struck shot was again brilliantly saved by the irrepressible Watson.

Ballyvea were throwing everything at Castlewellan, but they were hitting their heads against a brick wall as the Town back four of Travers, Stratton, Ruari McArdle and Aidy Kelly stubbornly refused to give way and restricted the Carginagh Road side to the odd, fleeting chance.

With 67 minutes gone Burden finally got on the end of cross from McConnell, but headed straight at Watson as Ballyvea’s night of woe continued.

Castlewellan remained dangerous on the counterattack and Steven Main had to race off his line to prevent Liam McKibben from getting on the end of a raking pass from man of the match Travers.

• A minute’s applause was observed by both teams and the crowd before the game in memory of the late Michael Donnelly from Drumaness and Joe McKibben, grandfather of Castlewellan players Donal and Liam McKibben.

Castlewellan: M. Watson, B. Travers, A. Kelly, R. McArdle, C. Stratton, S. Russell, D. Anderson, N. Toner, D. McKibben, A. Burns, L. McKibben. Subs: S. Trainor, C. Corrigan, C. Og Crilly, C. Corrigan.

Ballyvea: S. Main, M. Johnston, K. Hanna, P. Main, C. Jones, B. White, C. Frazer, G. Stewart, M. Burden, M. McConnell, D. Morris. Subs: D. McConnell, P. Chambers, T. Johnston.

Man of the match: Barry Travers (Castlewellan).

Castlewellan 1

Ballyvea 0

HARRY CLARKE CUP FINAL

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