Dergview and Mallards set for final showdown

By Tommy Nethery

DERGVIEW and Ballinamallard United must be sick of the sight of each other!

This afternoon, the Lough 41 Championship rivals will meet for the fourth time this season when they lock horns in the final of the North West Senior Cup at Darragh Park.

That cup decider comes seven days after the Castlederg side defeated the Mallards 2-1 in their final league game before the split to secure a place in the top six.

Dergview’s first game post-split is – you guessed it – against Ballinamallard!

Before that though the focus will be on the Senior Cup decider. The Derg are the holders after capturing the trophy for the first time last season by defeating Limavady United 3-2 in the final at the Limavady Showgrounds.

In the previous final the Mallards defeated Dergview on penalties, although in between those deciders the shoe was on the other foot as Dergview, then under the guidance of Ivan Sproule, emerged victorious from a fifth round Irish Cup clash on penalties.

So far this season Tommy Canning’s outfit have had the better of things in the league with two victories and draw in the three meetings.

Following Saturday’s crucial derby win – courtesy of goals by Jamie Browne and Mattie Buchanan – Canning praised the character of his players in yet again securing the local bragging rights.

“We showed a huge amount of character today,” he said.

“Except for wee dips during the season that’s been there all year. They are an unbelievable group of young fellas.

“They went through a rough patch when things went against us but they have come through that. All the opportunities we had to secure the top six and Saturday was probably the least opportune, especially when you go one down.

“But outside the goal did McGarvey (goalkeeper Patrick) have a save to make? I don’t think so.

“I changed things in the second half and that’s the thing about us we have quality and legs to come off the bench. Saturday’s victory was nothing more than my players deserved.

“I don’t think there can be any complaints about us winning the game but the bigger picture is the top six.

“Before that though we have a cup to try and win next week. We need to focus on that first.

“I think mentally Ballinamallard don’t like playing against us. Playing us hasn’t been a good experience for them in recent games.

“We got zero credit for winning at Darragh Park on Boxing Day, the day we beat them 2-0. I read Harry’s (McConkey) interview this week and he talked about them been disappointed and frustrated and they had chances to win the game and

I’m thinking nawh!

“We deserved it then and we deserved it today again.”

While Canning was elated that his team had secured a top half finish, his opposite number McConkey cut a disappointed and hugely frustrated figure following the defeat at a sun-kissed Ferney.

The Mallards boss admitted that his side’s promotion bid was all but over following defeat to the Derg men.

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We were in control of that game, 1-0 up in a good position and we don’t want to give them a sniff in the second half.” he said.

“If you are not scoring at one end and conceding absolutely crazy goals then that’s not a good place to be. We couldn’t seriously think of going up to another level if you produce that type of performance.

“Saturday’s defeat summed our season up. We have had opportunities but we keep popping our own balloon.

“We were up for the battle and the fight. That’s what I asked of the players, to show that hunger and desire which we hadn’t in the past against the Derg.

“That was such a meaningful game for both and they got the prize and we haven’t.”

Looking ahead to the cup final and yet another meeting of the sides McConkey added, “We know each other inside out.

“We have to yet again sweep defeat aside, as we always do, and pick everybody up and go again.

“It does mean that we go again to Dergview, to their home ground for the next two weeks, to a team that are full of confidence, celebrating their top six which seemed dead and buried.

“They are buoyed, while we will be finding our confidence knocked, so this will be a real test. All of the games now, for us, are about pride and trying to reverse the trend where we will have been throwing away silly points.”