McConville Cup final preview

For the first time Bellurgan United and Muirhevnamor FC will clash in the final of the Fastfix McConville Cup inaugurated in 1978 to honour the memory of one of the greatest local players to play with Dundalk, who left us far too early.

This will be the 45th final to be played on the Oriel Park pitch which witnessed some of his greatest games. Bellurgan have reached the blue ribbon of local Soccer on five occasions, the first in 1984 when they drew 0-0 against Quay Celtic.

Owen Traynor gave Bellurgan an early lead in the replay only to see Micky Coburn wipe it out with a great header. Quay won the penalty shootout 2-1.

In 1998, Quay beat the Flynn Park men 2-0, with Willie Crawley and Hugh Murphy scoring. The first win was in 1990 against Mellifont, with Owen Traynor getting the only goal of the match.

The following year Bellurgan beat Pearse Celtic 3-0, Christy O'Connor with goals either side of Gerry Spain's goal, saw off their opponents with a clean sheet.

Bellurgans last final prior to this year against Muirhevnamor was their finest, a 4-1 win over Rock Celtic in the 1993 decider. A Christy O'Conor hattrick along with Robbie Tasker's goal was too much for a Fintan Lynch reply.

Muirhevnamor's first final was in 1994, a 1-0 win over Bay United, with Alan Todd scoring. They then beat Pearse Celtic 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Gerry Matthews getting their goal.

A long wait until 2007 was worth it, as they set out on an eleven-year dominance of the Cup. It began with a 1-0 over Quay Celtic, thanks to a Mickey O'Kane strike in extra time.

In 2008 a 9-0 demolition of Demesne Celtic followed, Chris Caulfield netting four times. Next came a 4-1 win over Shamrocks.

In 2010 the same teams met again, a Mickey O'Kane brace too much for a Drew Duffy goal. For a third year in a row the same sides met, Conal Mulvenna, Stefan McKevitt and Thomas McShane's goals proving too much for a Billy Smith strike.

St. Dominic's almost lowered the blues colours but lost 4-3 in 2012 and lost out 2-1 in extra time the following year. Gary Clarke, Ray McCann and Sean Conlon, McCann getting a brace, saw Rampart lose 4-0 in the 2014 final.

2015 saw the two Muirhevnamor teams meet in the final, FC winning 5-2 over Celtic. Shamrocks once more tried to get the better of their bitter rivals, but Billy Smith's hattrick along with goals from Gary Clarke and Brendan Hughes beat Dean Browne and Jimmy Cooney's efforts.

2017 was the Blue's last McConville triumph, a 4-0 win over Quay Celtic, with Mickey O'Kane getting a hattrick, Muirhevnamor has never lost a McConville Cup final.