Teams all set for Boxing Day final

Teams all set for Boxing Day final

18 December 2024

DRUMANESS Mills Reserves and Strangford will be aiming to find the knockout blow when they go toe-to-toe in the Bobby Dalzell Cup final at Robert Adams Park, Crossgar, on Boxing Day.

The pair overcame tough semi-final ties to book their place in the Christmas showpiece and will now fight it out for the first honours of the season.

Strangford were forced to go the distance in their clash with Ardglass, holding their nerve to claim a 4-2 penalty shootout win.

Drumaness were also put through the mill, fighting off relentless pressure from Ballynagross to snatch a shock win through Rory McQuoid’s dramatic extra-time winner.

The finalists are untested against each other this season and it remains to be seen who will have the upper hand.

Strangford have enjoyed a perfect run in the league campaign so far, towering four places above their opponents in the table, and although a cup final is a completely different kettle of fish, the two sides have experienced differing results of late.

The Mills had begun to gather serious momentum in the run-up to the final, beating Ballynagross and Downpatrick in the league, before falling to a 2-0 defeat away to strong Killough side last time out.

On the other hand, Strangford have only played two games since their semi-final triumph, but will be roaring with confidence thanks to consecutive victories over Celtic Bhoys Academy, including an astonishing 7-0 win on Saturday.

League form to date points in the direction of Strangford being the favourites to lift the cup and many have Drumaness pegged as the underdogs — something manager Stephen Boyd is relishing.

“We like being the underdogs and although I don’t think it necessarily releases the pressure, it certainly helps me and a lot of our players,” he said.

“Our squad has a real mix of stalwarts and a lot of youth. The more senior players may not like being considered underdogs, but it will help the younger players to rise to the occasion, and that is what we need.”

Strangford’s joint manager, Frankie Black, is not convinced by his opponents’ underdog tag though.

“We won’t be taking them as underdogs and we will actually be viewing them as Drumaness Mills, not the reserves,” he said.

“We won’t take them lightly and there are no guarantees in a final, it’s really about what happens on the day.”

Anything can happen in a one-off game and sometimes the occasion can even get to some players.

Although Boyd is well aware of that, he is backing his side’s ability.

He said: “I know the players I can rely on and who might wilt. I have to pick 16 players from a squad of 20, but I have a fair idea.”

“We have a number of flair players, those who can really perform in the big moments and decide a game, and although Sean McQuoid is over 40, I think he is the best player in the league.”

Meanwhile, Black believes his Strangford team an individual who could be the deciding factor between winning and losing.

“We lost James Mahoney, who went to America, but when he was leaving, he recommended a young lad who wasn’t getting a game at Ballynagross and since we brought him in, he has hit the ground running.”

“That player is Jack Fitzsimons and I think he could make all the difference in this match.

He is absolutely flying and has been an absolute steal from Ballynagross. I honestly believe he is too good for the Newcastle League,” he added.

Now just over a week away, with preparations still to be made, the Bobby Dalzell Cup really could go home with either team, but Black has his sights on success.

“I’m feeling confident. We know what we have to do and we think we can win it,” he said.

However, Boyd also expects nothing less than silverware: “Strangford will have to be at their best to beat us and I don’t think we will come away empty-handed.”

Kick off scheduled for 1.30pm.