By Jonathan Brown
Downpatrick will take on Castlewellan Forest in this year’s Bobby Dalzell final after a thrilling win over Drumaness Mills Reserves on Friday night, with head coach Mark Holland saying he’s “over the moon” with the victory.
The Mills took the lead in the 31st minute at Robert Adams Park through James McGivern, but Downpatrick responded almost immediately through Anthony Carson. A goal kick from keeper Ruairi Murphy found Morgan McCoubrey, who squared the ball to Carson, and he was able to slot home and level the game. Just three minutes later, Josh Montgomery put the men in green ahead, striking a low volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It remained 2-1 going into the halftime break, but just a minute into the restart, the Meadowvale outfit struck back through Philip Rogan. However, Holland’s team responded again in the 52nd minute. A superb ball in from Morgan McCoubrey was met at the back post by Shea Holland, who fired home past Marc Reid in the Mills’ goal. That was to be the end of the scoring, as a youthful Downpatrick outfit held out to secure a coveted Bobby Dalzell semi-final victory over an experienced Drumaness Mills side.
Former Cliftonville player Holland was proud of his team’s performance and the resilience his players displayed on the night. “It was an end-to-end game. We started off brightly, then we let Drumaness back into it, but we eventually got on top for a wee bit, put our foot on the pedal and upped the tempo. When it went to 2-2, we scored five minutes after that. So, it was a case of hanging on because we knew, rightly, they were pushing for the equaliser. I’m very proud of them to hold on to get to the final. We’re over the moon,” Holland explained.
It was a special night for teenager Shea Holland, Mark’s nephew, who scored the winner and impressed in the game, alongside 18-year-old defender Ben Hynds. But Holland was keen to reiterate that it was a victory built on collective effort. “He (Shea) was excellent on the night along with Ben, four or five of them were brilliant on the night. All 11, and the two subs that came on, were outstanding in terms of doing what we asked of them.”
Holland, who coaches Downpatrick alongside Kevin Trueman and coach Barry Kelly, felt one of the keys to victory was nullifying the threat of the Mills’ more experienced players, such as player-manager Sean McQuoid. “Big Connor Moore did a great job on McQuoid and to keep the likes of Philip, Steven (Rogan) and James McGivern quiet, the boys were outstanding in dealing with them.”
Downpatrick native Holland says it’s a “great achievement” to be in another Bobby Dalzell final, following the club’s last appearance in 2023, when they lost out to Ardglass. “It’s a great achievement to be in another final. We were unlucky in 2023, but something has to change, and hopefully we can bring it home this time. It means a lot to be in the final and it would mean a lot if I could win it with my hometown club.”
Castlewellan Forest provide Downpatrick’s opposition in the Boxing Day final, and Holland isn’t taking the side that sit directly above them in the Newcastle League Premier Division table lightly, adding that he hopes victory in that game could help their league form in the new year. “Castlewellan will be a tough test after beating Killough in the semi-final. It’ll just be about whoever turns up on the day, that’s who will lift it, and hopefully it’ll be us. Winning a trophy gives you confidence and that’s what the boys are high on at the minute, confidence. So, if we win this, hopefully it’ll drive us on and push us up the table.”
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