Playr-Fit Peter Corrigan Memorial Cup final
Drumaness Mills 4 Newcastle Town 2
A JACK Sharvin hat trick saw Drumaness Mills champions at the annual Peter Corrigan Memorial Cup in Castlewellan on Saturday, as they defeated last year’s champions, Newcastle (now Newcastle Town), in a six goal thriller.
Drumaness began the game as the brighter of the two sides, creating some good early chances, but were pretty wasteful in the early exchanges with Murray and Holland both going close.
The early dominance did however payoff as they opened the scoring from a set piece after some good work by the impressive Murray up front. The corner into the box was met by captain Murdock who headed in unchallenged to make it 1-0.
Drumaness continued to dominate after taking the lead, creating several chances but no real clear openings, as the Newcastle defence were doing their best to keep the team in the game.
Chances were at a premium for the Seasiders who would soon find themselves two down when Sharvin grabbed his first of the game with an inch perfect free kick into the bottom corner of the goal.
The next goal in the game was going to be crucial, and it was Newcastle who would find it against the run of play.
Some loose passing at the back from Drumaness was pounced on by the Newcastle attack, with the ball eventually finding teenager Kian Mulholland who hit a spectacular effort into the top corner. The striker has impressed throughout the tournament and reminded Drumaness of the danger that this Newcastle team possess in attack.
Despite the goal, it was Drumaness who continued to apply the pressure with Turley and Wright both going close before Sharvin grabbed his second with a superb lobbed effort to make it 3-1.
This looked to be a blow to Newcastle but they were given a lifeline on the stroke of half time when another misplaced pass from the Mills was intercepted, and McInerney ran through to cooly finish and make it 3-2 at the break.
While Drumaness had enjoyed the majority of play, it was still very much game on for the second half.
Newcastle started the second half brightly and almost grabbed an equaliser but for a good save from the Mills keeper who had been largely untested during the game.
Both teams then exchanged half chances although Drumaness were still very much on top in the possession stakes during the first 15 minutes of the second half.
The first clear cut chance of the second half would fall to that man Sharvin, who would complete his hat trick with another great finish, following an excellent ball over the top from Domican in defence.
This goal would all but end the game and while there was still enough time for Newcastle to get back into the game, Drumaness used their experience to see the game out.
Newcastle did continue to push to try and get back into the game but just couldn’t find the breakthrough that would have setup a grandstand finish, and as referee Barry Mullan blew the whistle, it was Drumaness who were crowned Corrigan Cup champions for 2024, their second time winning the pre-season tournament following success all the way back in 1992.
For both teams the competition will have provided some much-needed minutes ahead of the new season which begins this Saturday.
Drumaness are in Steel and Sons Cup action as they face St Matthew’s in the first round, while Newcastle Town start life in NAFL 1B away to Greenisland.
