Ballynagross FC win Bobby Dalzell Cup on penalties
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
NFU Mutual Bobby Dalzell Cup Final,
Meadowvale, 17th March 2023,
Full time score: Ballynagross 1 1 Strangford (Ballynagross win 5-4 on penalties).
This local derby cup final did not live up to expectations and it was decided on penalties in front of a large crowd at Meadowvale home of the Drumaness Mills club writes Cyril McKinney.
Both teams went into this game not at full strength and it was Ballynagross who started well and after 9 minutes Declan Dowie had the ball in the net but his celebrations were cut short as he was flagged off side.
At the other end Strangford’s lively number 10 James Mahoney drove into the box from the left wing and as he cut in on his right he forced Cathail Arnold to make a sharp save low down to his right at the expense of a corner.
Then on 25 minutes Strangford striker Fitzsimons had the ball in the net but was flagged offside. Both sets of defences protected their keeper and neither had a serious save to make throughout the first half.
Into the second half it was much of the same until Ballynagross took the lead through a Callum Mahoney strike converting a Burns header across goal on 61 minutes from a left wing cross giving the Strangford keeper Holland no chance from close in.
The response from Strangford was almost immediate and it was their number 10 James Mahoney, brother of Ballynagross goal scorer Callum, who beat the off side trap and lobbed the advancing Arnold into an empty net on 63 minutes to level things up at 1-1.
The quality of the game did not improve and the game drifted towards extra time.
Extra time did not provide much by way of chances until the second period when Strangford upped their game and created a few half chances.
But the Ballynagross defence stood resolute mixed with some luck and good saves from Arnold including a header from McFall and a Dowie clearance of the line.
The game ended 1:1 after extra time and then went to penalties. It was left to Arnold to save a spot kick from King and the winning kick was taken and scored by Aodhan Harney to start the celebrations in the Strangford camp.
Cormac Byrne was adjudged to be man of the match but was pushed close by Christopher Laverty in defence.
In a game of few chances, Strangford will rue their missed half chances but congratulations and the silver went to Ballynagross.
Ballynagross FC: Cathail Arnold, Connor Marron, John Shields, Christopher Laverty, Conor Campbell, Cormac Byrne, Joseph Burns, Shea McComiskey, Declan Dowie, Jack Fitzsimons, Callum Mahoney. Subs : Ryan Tumelty for Conor Campbell , Aidan McNeill, Aodhan Harney for Jack Fitzsimons, Deaglan Craig.
Strangford FC: Gareth Holland, Stefan McGrattan, Conall Magee, Thomas Fitzsimons, Fionn McFall, Shane Taggart, Jordan Doran, Callum Shields, Conal Fitzsimons, James Mahoney, Shea Savage. Subs: Owen Curran for Shea Savage, Eoin Watterson for Thomas Fitzsimons, E King for Conal Fitzsimons, James Shields, Cathal Kinsella.
