Final abandoned as Charlie see red

THE Consolation Cup Final, i n memory of George McArthur, ended in drama on Friday evening, with FC Kettledrum leading 2-1 with 15 minutes to play.

The referee called a halt to proceedings shortly after Charleston’s third sending off for a second booking had reduced them to eight players.

A few more followed in the aftermath of that for dissent and, with fewer than six players on the park, the game was called off and will be left with the league committee to decide the status of the tie in due course.

It was a disappointing end to a memorial final for one of the league’s young players who died in 2003.

In the play-off matches, Fintry Rovers made short work of seeing off Cannon Fodder to secure Premier League football next season with a resounding 6-1 win.

Fodder had chances early doors and Connor McKenna’s penalty had brought them back into the game, though three goals on the break and a 5-1 half-time lead for Fintry ensured they relegated their opponents and replace them in the top division.

In the Balgay Bar Play-Off Final, Wellbeat overcame RNL Dundee, with a 2-1 win keeping them in the First Division.

The league’s AGM is tonight at the Dalhousie Building with 38-plus clubs enrolling in membership for the start of the 2017-18 campaign.

At the weekend, the captains of the t wo finalists in the Shaun Kelly Cup also donated £650 each to three deserving causes, raised in fine money this season on behalf of the league.

The beneficiaries were The Frank Kopel Foundation to support Frank’s Law, the British Heart Foundation and Dundee West’s Disability Autistic team towards new kit for the players.

This now takes the DSMFL’s contribution to charities and good causes over the £10k mark in the past six season and well past £15k since the league began making charitable contributions in 2004 when they began donating fine money to deserving causes chosen by the league’s clubs.

A key purpose of the DSMFL is to make charitable contributions each season and, with a constitution that forbids honoraria or expenses for league officials, the volunteers who run the league on behalf of the clubs are duty bound to make sure that purpose is enacted and maintained.

It does soften the blow of a disciplinary fine knowing it is being put to good use.

Riverside CSC with the Sean Kelly Memorial Cup after beating Hilltown Hotspurs in the final at North End Park.

Action from the Sean Kelly Memorial Cup Final between Riverside CSC (blue) and Hilltown Hotspurs.