ROUND 6
Westport Utd 0
Ballinasloe Town 1
Duffy 106
(AET)
Daniel Carey
Westport
ONE hundred and six minutes. That’s how long it took to separate Westport United and Ballinasloe Town in last Sunday’s FAI Junior Cup match – so long, that many in the Sports Park had resigned themselves to a penalty shoot-out. Ballinasloe’s Mark Duffy had other ideas, and with his goal went United’s hopes of cup glory.
Westport made the early running, and David Hoban twice went close in the opening three minutes. His first effort, from an indirect free kick awarded inside the box, was blocked, while he fired over soon after beating the offside trap.
A light drizzle persisted as the early stages were played at a ferocious pace. The lively Kevin Joyce headed wide for Westport after Austin O’Malley’s free kick was flicked on, while at the other end, Ballinasloe’s Mark Duffy was narrowly off target with a long-distance effort.
United had the better of the opening period. Vinny O’Malley forced a good save from Paul Hickey, who got a strong hand to the ball, and Jason Clogher cleared off the line. Hoban went on a great right out right, ghosting past two defenders, but shot just wide. Joe Lawless was defending well, but Ballinasloe came more into the game in the run-up to half time. Two Gary Egan corners set up opportunities – Glen Campbell got a flick on one, while Niall Stack couldn’t direct his header on target from the other.
The visitors were the better team on the resumption, and Campbell just failed to connect after Liam Lynch flicked on Egan’s free kick. Stack had a pop from way out after some nervous Westport defending, while blocking a Hoban chance at the other end.
A lacklustre second half came to life 20 minutes after the restart. Hoban’s powerful header from a corner kick forced a great save from Hickey, and Vinny O’Malley’s follow-up went out for another corner. From that delivery, a spectacular, almost Rooney-esque effort from Kevin Joyce clipped the crossbar, but there was still no breakthrough.
Ballinasloe finished strongly but were twice flagged offside, much to the annoyance of those in the visiting dugout. Vinny O’Malley almost clinched victory at the death for Westport, but his attempted lob went just over. Ballinasloe might have edged ahead in injury time, but Mark Duffy’s effort went wide following good work by Adrian Ward and Glen Campbell.
Westport had the better of the first half of extra time which followed. Lawless had a pop from distance, while Dave Cameron had a penalty appeal turned down when challenging for Shaun Tagg’s delivery. The closest they came was when Joyce, while on the ground, managed to get the ball to Hoban, who held off a tackle before drawing another super stop from Hickey.
Town looked stronger after the turnaround. Lynch’s header was saved by Niall Gallagher, while the Galway men had what looked like a legitimate penalty claim rejected after captain Peter Keighery went down in the box. Barely a minute later, Mark Duffy latched onto a through ball and fired past Gallagher, prompting celebrations in which all ten Ballinasloe outfield players partook. Their ecstatic reaction was replicated soon afterwards when the final whistle went.
Westport United
N Gallagher, A O’Malley, J Lawless, M Geraghty, D Scahill, S Tagg, D Cameron, K Joyce, M McNally, V O’Malley, D Hoban.
Subs used: D Mulchrone for Scahill; G McGreevy for McNally; G McLoughlin for Tagg.
Ballinasloe Town
P Hickey, J Clogher, G Furey, P Keighery, N Stack, K Kenny, G Campbell, A Ward, L Lynch, M Duffy, G Egan.
Referee: M Halligan
