Dergview defeat Mallards to retain North West Senior Cup

Dergview 3 Ballinamallard United 1

DERGVIEW retained the Eventsec North West Senior Cup by defeating familiar foes Ballinamallard United at Darragh Park this afternoon.

The Castlederg outfit won the prized silverware for an historic first time last season and goals by Jamie Browne, Mikhail Kennedy and Niall McGinley helped the north Tyrone side secure back-to-back triumphs.

The decider brought together the arch rivals for a fourth time this season and the Mallards were quickly out of the blocks.

In fact, the visitors squandered a number of excellent opportunities before and after John Edgar broke the deadlock on 24 minutes with a low finish.

That advantage lasted just eight minutes. A flowing move started by Jonny McKeown ended with Matty Kirk threading Browne through on the right and the attacker blasted a rising shot high inside Rory Brown’s far post.

While the first half belonged to the Ducks, their opponents ruled the roost in the second.

Around the hour mark Kennedy glanced home a Cathal Farren free kick and less than 10 minutes later it was 3-1. Garth Falconer fed Kirk, who sent Browne racing through on the left to pull the ball back for McGinley to fire home first time.

That killed off the Mallards’ challenge and in the final quarter the hosts threatened to run away with things as Kirk and substitute Sean McCarron twice squandered glorious opportunities.

But it mattered not. The Castlederg outfit retained the prestigious silverware by making it three wins on the trot and five unbeaten against their rivals.

REPORT AND REACTION MONDAY’S TYRONE HERALD