By Jonathan Brown
ARDGLASS co-manager Aaron Beattie said he has “every faith” in his team after they ran out as 3-0 winners in Easter Monday’s Harry Clarke Final.
Two goals from Ryan McKinney and one from Michael Magee ensured that Downpatrick were comfortably dispatched for the second year in a row as Ardglass retained the Harry Clarke Cup.
“I think we went into this game as favourites, but it was always going to be a tough game.
“I have every faith in Ardglass since I took over at this club, it was just the players that needed to believe, and the belief has been drilled into them over the past three years.
“The job’s done and it’s another trophy in the bag, so we’re over the moon,” Beattie explained.
Downpatrick must be sick of the sight of Ardglass by now, after 4-1 and 4-0 defeats in last year’s Harry Clarke and KitRoom Cup finals, followed by a 4-1 defeat in this season’s KitRoom Cup semi-final.
Although Beattie believed 3-0 was a harsh scoreline, he felt the experience of his team told once again, with old heads like Malachy Crangle, John Beattie, and goalscorer Magee playing a crucial role in securing the win.
“It was comfortable in the end, but it wasn’t a 3-0 scoreline, that was a bit harsh on Downpatrick.
“Downpatrick have a few experienced players, we have six or seven, and maybe that made a bit of a difference coming towards the end of the game in terms of taking the ball into the corner, running the clock down, and doing smart things to win the game.”
Ardglass and Downpatrick won’t have to wait long to resume their rivalry, with the sides facing each other in a league game on Saturday, and Beattie will be hoping the reigning Premier Division champions can land another hammer blow.
Another win will put Ardglass seven points clear of Mark Holland’s side at the top of the Newcastle League Premier Division table.
“We’ll celebrate tonight but then it’s back to the hard work as we push for this league title.
“I think they’ll be a wee bit deflated, it’s another final and they’ve been defeated again.
“But every game is different, we’ll see on Saturday when we meet again,” Beattie said.
