Ardglass proved too strong for Downpatrick in the NFU Harry Clarke Cup Final
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
The NFU Harry Clarke Cup Final 2025,
Venue: Meadowvale, Drumaness on 21 4 25,
Final result: Ardlass FC 4 1 Downpatrick FC.
Downpatrick FC won the toss in the Harry Clarke Cup Final but Ardglass got off to a sharp start attacking and Corey Mahon made a cross to the goal Downpatrick mouth where Karl O’Neill and Aidan Watson just missed the touch as it came through the goal area writes Jim Masson.
Ardglass were making their intentions clear from the whistle and quickly put Downpatrick under pressure. But winger Nathan McAlister tried to right the odds and broke forward crossing to Shea Holland whose volley went wide.
Then it was Downpatrick’s turn to mount pressure and Declan Dowie cracked a solid volley from just outside the Ardglass box which rose inches over the top bar.
Downpatrick had a spell of throwing themselves at Ardglass and Dowie hit this time on target but keeper James Crangle saved the shot well.
(Photos by Jim Masson/DownNews©)
As the game was hotting up with both sides showing their metal, Ardglass then charged the Downpatrick goal area winning two corners but the Downpatrick defenders eventually cleared their lines. Subsequently Seany Duggan got a volley in at the Ardglass goal but it was blocked.
Ardglass winger Pabhraig O’Shea then broke forward and pressed the Downpatrick goal and won a corner.
As the ball scootered through the pack in front of the Downpatrick nets, it was Michael Magee who found the space close in and hammered it into the middle of the Downpatrick net to put Ardglass a goal ahead on 17 minutes.
Downpatick immediately fought back and launched a number of attacks.
Downpatrick were not lying down and battled back and on 22 minutes they equalised when William Taggart this time got a kick in a goal mouth scramble and nailed it to the back of the Ardglass net giving keeper James Crangle no chance.
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It looked as though the match was set for a close contest going to the wire. Pabhraig O’Shea sent a low drive just inches wide of the back post at an angle. Then at the other end Barry Treacy made a great cross to Dowie who almost scored.
And a minute slater the drama continued as Nathan McAlister broke clear of Dara O’Shea and faced keeper Crangle in the box but just missed the opportunity. Downpatrick were stepping up their game and were making excellent fast attacks.
But just as though it looked as though the tide was turning for Downpatrick, Ardglass midfielder John Beattie cleared the ball from his half and set up an attack and a long ball to winger Pabhraig O’Shea saw him take the goal well putting Ardglass in the lead again on 35 minutes.
Downpatrick’s Josh Montgomery made a solid effort in striking a volley on target low but keeper Crangle was on form and saved the shot again.
The second half was peppered with breaks through injuries and substitutions as the pace on the players was beginning to tell and injuries were occurring.
Ardglass were stepping up the attacks and Michael Magee and Dara O’Shea were combining well.
Player of the match Aidan Watson took a free from outside the Downpatrick box and hit it just over the bar, and Magee also hit a volley inches over the Downpatrick crossbar.
Gradually Ardglass were pressing more against the younger Downpatrick side. The Ardglass defence looked fairly tight and any efforts Downpatrick made were soon broken.
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Michael Magee and Connor Campbell had ‘words’ and for their sins both received yellow cards as tensions mounted in the game.
Karl O’Neill made an excellent cross to Pabhraig O’Shea who had a clear run to the Downpatrick goal but he was just deemed offsides.
Ardglass sub Ryan McKinney came on and shortly after a free kick for Ardglass he ran round the pack in front of the Downpatrick goal mouth and headed down to Magee who hammered the ball straight into the net on the 55th minute putting Ardglass 3-1 ahead.
Downpatrick tried to rally but the game was slipping away from them as the clock ticked towards the final whistle.
Then in the 82nd minute, midfielder Shea Dorrian put the game beyond Downpatrick scoring the fourth goal for Ardglass drilling his kick low from outside the Downpatrick box.
At the final whistle, Downpatrick had done their best against a determined and more experienced Ardglass side and will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in tournaments to come in the future.
Ardglass have had a great season. They are topping the Premier League in the Newcastle and District Amateur Football League and look likely contenders for the league cup. They are sitting on 37 points for 13 games and their nearest rival is Strangford on 24 points for 13 games.
(A victory celebration took place at the Green Heights Bar in Ardglass with a band and food courtesy of Dominic Wills, proprietor.)
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Ardglass FC: 1 James Crangle (GK) 2 Corey Mahon 3 Malachy Crangle 4 Jordan Deegans 5 Shea Dorrian 6 Dara O’Shea 7 Pabhraig O’Shea 8 John Beattie 9 Michael Magee (C) 10 Karl O’Neill 15 Aidan Watson. Subs: 11 Ryan McKinney 12 Michael Clarke 14 Ryan Cusack 16 Sean Carr 17 Ryan Carson.
Downpatrick FC: 1 Taylor Beattie (GK) 2 Shea Holland 3 Con Farrell 4 Harry McCarthy 5 Connor Campbell 6 Barry Treacy 7 Nathan McAlister 8 (C) Josh Montgomery 9 William Taggart 10 Declan Dowie 11 Seany Duggan Subs: 12 James Turner 14 Caolan Deegan 15 Anthony Carson 16 Nathan McShane 17 Morgan McCoubrey.
