Dec 28 2016
History Created As Dollingstown Win The Bob Radcliffe Cup

DFC made more history today with a convincing and fully deserved victory in the final of the Bob Radcliffe Cup by coming from a goal down after 4 minutes to go on and score 5 without further reply.

Both teams had hard-fought semi finals and both teams were there on merit and it was Coagh who went in front through former DFC old boy Richard Donaghy after a quickly taken corner caught DFC cold in the opening minutes.

However DFC didn’t panic and indeed young Josh Norton should have equalised a minute later but his tame effort was pushed round the post by the keeper and from the resultant corner center back Walker should have scored but he volleyed over the bar from 6 yards out.

It wasn’t until the quarter-hour mark when the pressure finally counted and Duke turned in a great cross from the left for Norton to nip in and beat the keeper and a minute later it was Duke himself who got number two when Norton headed on a Glen Hand free kick.

Then on the half hour mark it was a Duke again from another Hand free kick who headed in at the back post to put Day light between the two teams and just before half time it really was all over when a Duke claimed the match ball with a clinical finish for a composed hat trick and goal number 29 of the season so far and with a number of clubs interested in his services this might well be his final game for the club.

Coagh started more brightly in the second half as one would expect the game was really all over at this stage and Croft had to be alert on a couple of occasions.

Scott Adams had a couple of long-range efforts that were not far away but it was skipper Moffett who wrapped up the game when he headed home a corner to make it 5-1 on the day.

Keegan and Duke and Adams were then all replaced by Gray and Rodgers and Harrison to let as many of the squad as possible experience the occasion.

This was a major boost for DFC to collect the trophy for the very first time in the clubs history and to continue the winning start for new manager Stephen Uprichard.

Next up is yet another cup game namely the Irish cup away to high-flying Richill who are sitting pretty at the top of Int B and who will fancy there chances as the home side.

All st DFC would like to wish everyone a happy New Year.

Dec 24 2016
Recruitment Now Open For Dollingstown Under 17’s

Dollingstown Football club are now looking for players eligible to play at Under 17’s level next season to register their interest for our team.

To register your interest simply fill in the form below or private message us on our Facebook or Twitter, all contact will be held confidential.

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Dec 23 2016
Season’s Greetings To One And All

We would like to reach out to everyone connected to Dollingstown Football Club and wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Everyone from our Sponsors, who we couldn’t do what we do without, the MUFL, the volunteers who help run the club, the players, the coaches and our supporters. It takes everyone to work together to be a success and to move the club forward in the right direction.

We wish all of you and your families a peaceful and safe Christmas time filled with fun, laughter and most of all great times creating memories.

We look forward to everyone coming together on Boxing Day at Lakeview Park in Loughgall for the Bob Radcliffe Cup Final which has an 11am KO.

 

Dec 19 2016
Details For The Bob Radcliffe Cup Final

As per usual the Bob Radcliffe Cup Final will take place on Boxing Day, Monday December 26th 2016.

 

Teams: Dollingstown vs Coagh United

Venue: Lakeview Park, Loughgall

Time: 11am KO

 

Referee: Ms Ruth-Anne Wright

Assistants: Mr Ryan Kelsey & Mr Aaron Graham

 

Entrance Fees: Adults £7 & Concessions £5

 

Dec 17 2016
Dollybirds Warm Up For Boxing Day Final With Comfortable Win At Camlough Rovers

DFC made a long-awaited return to league action on Saturday after a number of cup matches and came away from Camlough with a fairly comfortable 4-0 victory in the end.

Manager Uprichard made a number of changes to rest key players for the cup final on Boxing Day plus also to give other squad players a much-needed 90 minutes of action.

DFC opened strongly on a very soft surface that seen more players from both sides of ending up on their backside but despite this the impressive Connor MC Fall making his debut in central midfield along side Marty Hughes who captained DFC in absence of central defender Moffett really shown out with his pace and touch.

On 13 minutes DFC nearly went in front when a Richard Thompson header was cleared off the line but on 20 minutes he did put them in front with believe it or not his first goal of the season when he headed in a Denver free kick.

After the initial opening 10 minutes of the second half it was DFC who really pressed on and no surprise when Harrison returning from injury put them 2-0 up with a cheeky lob over the keeper from a tight angle.

This was his last action of the match as both Harrison and Denver were replaced by Aaron Duke and the return to first team action after 11 months with injury of Neil king.

However Camlough should have pulled a goal back a few minutes later when there central defender found himself free at the back post from a corner but he blazed it over the bar from 3 yards out.

Then Adams and Hughes both fired wide as DFC went in search of making the game safe and when Gray pulled the ball back to the edge of the area Thompson calmly slotted low into the bottom corner.

Redpath was then replaced by Luke Adams also making his first appearance from injury from the opening fixture against Camlough back in August and he was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet when his shot from distance rebounded from the bar.

With a few minutes remaining Thompson took advantage of sloppy defending to run in and found the keeper for his hat trick now that he is back in familiar surroundings at DFC.

This was a solid team performance overall and key players coming back from injury will create many positive problems for the management team in the new year.

DFC now have little rest with the Bob Radcliffe cup final on Boxing Day morning against Coagh United at Lakeview Park, Loughgall with 11 am kick off and we want to wish the boys all the best for this first big final of the season.

Dec 14 2016
Dollybirds To Meet Two Time Winners Coagh United In Boxing Day Showpiece

With both Semi-Final’s played we now know the line up for the Bob Radcliffe Cup Final which is traditionally held on Boxing Day at Lakeview Park, Loughgall with an 11am KO.

Dollingstown vs Coagh United

Both teams overcame the so-called ‘favorites’ in the semi-final games without home advantage either with both games going down to the wire in what we’re always going to be tight affairs.

Dollingstown to Iveagh Park and triumphed over a strong attacking Rathfriland team with the winner coming seven minutes from the end of the 90 minutes for the Dollybirds to sneak a 1-0 win thanks to a fantastic defensive display and with top goal scorer Aaron Duke scoring the winning goal.

Dollingstown have reached the Boxing Day Final once before in the 2013/14 season losing out to Armagh City.

Coagh United traveled to the Showgrounds, home of Newry City AFC after being 2-0 down at halt time, with a fantastic 2nd half managed to get back level after 90 minutes with goals from X Dollybird Richard Donaghy and Mark Taylor putting the game into extra time. With no goals in extra time the game went to the dreaded penalty shootout and Coagh United held their nerve to progressed to the Final after some excellent penalties.

Coagh United have reached the final on 6 occasions and have been the winners on 2 occasions lifting the trophy in 1988/89 and more recently in 2006/7 when the beat Dungannon Swifts and Banbridge Town respectively.

So now both Dollingstown and Coagh United have a big day out on Boxing Day to see who can lift the Bob Radcliffe Cup.

 

Dec 11 2016
The Dollybirds Book Boxing Day Final After Duke Sucker Punch

The postponed match from a couple of weeks ago finally got underway at Iveagh Park and DFC rose victorious to reach there second Bob Radcliffe cup final in club history.

Rathfriland opened brightly especially down the right-wing and nearly caught DFC out in the opening quarter-hour mainly with Costello on the end of things.

DFC likewise had a few chances with Norton and Clark combining but both defences held firm during the first half.

DFC put together the best move of the match after the restart down the right involving Redpath and Clark and Norton but no final end product in the box.

At the other end Costello kept trying hard but his shot from the edge of the area thankfully drifted just wide of the upright.

On the hour mark Keegan produced a delightful cross from the left-wing but skipper Moffett headed wide.

Then a few minutes later the same player delivered another superb cross from the left which Clark coming in from the right-wing headed straight at keeper Shane Harrison and from the rebound Norton really should have opened the scoring but Harrison pulled off a miraculous one-handed save.

Keegan was then replaced by Scott Adams as DFC kept plugging away against a very strong Rathfriland side made up of many ex Irish league players.

Then with only 6 minutes remaining the all important goal finally arrived . Clark harried Ross Black at left back into a mistake and he kept his composure to find Duke in the box who calmly stroked it into the bottom corner.

This was a truly gutsy team effort by everyone from DFC that seen them reach the final on Boxing Day morning in loughgall.

DFC make the welcome return to league action this Saturday away once again to camlough and it is most important to try and focus on getting 3 points to reduce the deficit at the top of the table after all these recent cup matches.

MATCH PICTURES with Thanks to Eamonn at EDS Photography