NADAFL Bobby Dalzell Cup Final
Castlewellan Forest v Downpatrick
Friday 26 December, 1.30pm, Robert Adams Park, Crossgar
This year’s Bobby Dalzell Cup final pits two teams who are neck and neck in the Newcastle League Premier Division table against each other. Third-placed Castlewellan Forest will take on fourth-placed Downpatrick on Boxing Day.
Forest recorded an impressive win over current Premier Division table-toppers Killough in their semi-final, while Downpatrick overcame Drumaness Mills Reserves in a 3-2 thriller.
The sides have yet to meet in the league this season, but Castlewellan joint-manager Jack Murnin was in attendance alongside assistant Joe O’Neill at Downpatrick’s semi-final clash with the Mills and was impressed with what he saw.
“We went up to the semi-final to watch them, and they seem like a decent team,” he said. “It took them maybe 15 minutes to get into the game, but when they did, they were very good. There’s plenty of work rate in them. Aaron McGarry got around the pitch well on the night, and they have two brilliant wingers in Nathan McAlister and Morgan McCoubrey, so they’ll be the dangermen.”
Downpatrick coach Mark Holland hasn’t had a chance to watch Forest in action this year, but he isn’t taking them lightly after that impressive win against Killough.
“We haven’t seen them play, but if they can beat a top side like Killough, they’re going to be a dangerous opponent to play against – they’ll be a strong outfit. Killough are a very good side, make no mistake about it. They’re top of the league for a reason. And Forest have beaten them in a semi-final, so we can’t take anything for granted. They’ve got here on merit.”
Rather than focusing on any of Forest’s players ahead of the final, which is being held at Robert Adams Park for the second year running following the Newcastle League’s decision to move the game from Meadowvale, Holland is concentrating on his own team.
“I’m just concerned about Downpatrick. I’m not one for looking at this player, looking at that player, and trying to work out who the dangermen are. If we can turn up on the day, we’ve got a very good young team that can challenge.”
There’s nothing between the sides in the league table, and former Cliftonville ace Holland is anticipating a tight encounter next week.
“It won’t be an easy game. I’ll go back to them beating Killough – anybody can beat anybody in the Premier Division. It’ll be about whoever turns up on the day.”
The Forest manager concurs: “The final of any cup is always close,” Murnin said. “No one wants to concede first in a final and everybody sets up well defensively,” he added.
However, Murnin believes his team goes into the game as underdogs.
“I know we beat top of the league Killough to get into the final, but I would still classify us as underdogs, they’re (Downpatrick) a first team, we’re a seconds team. I said before the semi-finals that we were the underdogs out of the four teams in there, and I’m sticking with that.”
In the full article read what Downpatrick manager Mark Holland said about the 2023 final which Downpatrick lost, and how that will affect them this time.
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