A Close Encounter Between Rossglass County and Castlewellan Forest in Harry Clarke Cup-Tie
The Newcastle and District Amateur Football League,
Harry Clarke Cup Round 2,
Venue: Dunleath Park, Saturday 20th January 2024,
Final Score: Rossglass County 3 4 Castlewellan Forest.
Rossglass County have been in better form of late and have been improving so this clash with Castlewellan Forest was a test of their steel.
Castlewellan were just favourites to win, but Rossglass will be proud of their performance against a Castlewellan side that just battles on for the whole game relentlessly writes Jim Masson.
In the 16th minute Castlewellan’s Ryan Morgan broke loose and open the scoring under pressure from Rossglass defenders.
Rossglass got off to a good start with a well executed equaliser goal by Pavel Bogdan in the 30th minute despite the constant attacks from the visitors.
Weather conditions were very windy and the heavy rain started into the second half.
The teams were all level at half-time on 1-1. The first half was difficult to play in the wind conditions, but the second half exploded into action.
It was Chris Hamilton who nailed the ball into the Castlewellan goal for Rossglass who put the home side ahead, but that was relatively short-lived as the game heated up.
Corrigan received his second yellow and a mandatory red card and had to do the long walk. Castlewellan were now theoretically at a disadvantage with only 10 players.
But six minutes after the sending off, O’Neill blasted his way to and equaliser and the teams hung on 2-2 until the 90 minute whistle.
And into extra-time after a strenuous second half, tensions were rising, and Kinley clinched a third goal for Castlewellan followed by Rossglass giving away a penalty under constant pressure.
Dornan stepped up to the penalty spot and hammered the ball to the left hand side of the goal beating keeper McVeigh.
All seemed a bridge too far now for Rossglass in the closing minutes as they clambered to close the gap. But then Barry Mageean saw his opportunity in the 108th minute and took the match to 3-4.
Rossglass tried to claw back into the game and get that second extra-time goal but despite their huge efforts, Castlewellan did enough to deny them a chance in a penalty shoot out.
This was a fiercely contested match, both teams giving giving their all in very miserable weather conditions.
Overall, Castlewellan Forest just had the edge and are now through to Round 3, but Rossglass County will be heartened that they gave their opponents a serious run for their money and will live to play another day.
Rossglass County: P Annett GK, G Grant, Barry Mageean, B Lennon, C Morrison, J Cusack, R Kearney, C Hamilton. plus 2 N/As. Subs: C Waterson, C McLaughlin, S Rea.
Castlewellan Forest: B McVeigh GK, C McCabe, n/a, C Burns, S McCann J O’Neill, D Gregory, C Corrigan, C McKay, R Morgan, A Dornan. Subs: S Kinley, L Cairns.
