Damolly FC claim the John Magee Cup

They’ve been the best teams in Mid-Ulster League Division 3 all year, so it’s no wonder that former Carnbane League teams Damolly FC and Dunnaman FC met in the John Magee Memorial Cup Final at Tandragee Rovers FC ground on Friday night for a hard-fought battle.

And it was Newry side Damolly who prevailed, coming from behind to beat the team who they played the week before with a 3-1 victory.

That previous fixture saw Dunnaman claim the the league title when they won out by the same score-line, making the Kilkeel side uncatchable by their closest rivals – the only team who could do so.

On Friday night the crowds lined the pitch for both teams with a hard-fought battle anticipated – and it didn’t disappoint.

Dunnaman took an early lead with a goal in the ninth minute from Ryan Mackey who nodded home at the far post from a corner.

That gave the league winners confidence that they could overturn Damolly once again, especially as they had done so in both of their league fixtures this season, and they could have had more goals in the first half, but Daniel Donnelly’s men were out for revenge and determined to bring some silverware back to Newry – and that they did.

Five minutes into the second half Jason Lennon poached the ball and launched a super shot from 18 yards out past Dunnaman keeper Stephen Doran’s outstretched arm into the back of the net to equalise.

Three minutes later Damolly had a chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Matthew Smyth stepped up but he sent the ball over the bar keeping the scoreline level at 1-1.

That only lasted a couple of minutes however, as Damolly kept the pressure on winning a couple of corners taken by Ethan Doyle, the second of which, was nodded across the face of goal where Stefan Martin finished to the roof of the net.

That put Damolly on the front foot for the first time in the game and their supporters were loving it. And with 20 minutes left on the clock, Smyth made up for his earlier penalty miss when a long free into the area from Andrew Boyce was only half cleared and with the keeper on the floor, Smyth was on hand to slot home what turned out to be the last goal of the game.

Frustrations began to show from the Kilkeel side with a number of bookings as they tried to battle their way back into the game and they were reduced to 10 men before the finish when James Reilly was dismissed with a second yellow card.

Damolly’s work was done on the pitch however as they held off their opponents to claim the John Magee Cup with joyful celebrations on the pitch after the final whistle blew.

Both sets of supporters had something to cheer about on the night however, as Dunnaman were also presented with the league cup.