Fahy Rovers 1
T McGing 55
Westport United 3
D Hoban 45, 65
JP O’Gorman 89
Neill O’Neill
Moneen
FOUR crosses, four headers, four goals and the first 2012 Super League meeting of hyper-local rivals, Westport United and Fahy Rovers, ended in victory for the unbeaten Connacht Cup champions on Thursday last.
Though both teams are Westport-based in terms of nearest urban centres, both are currently playing their home matches on the outskirts of Castlebar, and so Moneen –temporary home of Fahy Rovers - hosted this clash, in weather that was always going to diminish the quality of the game.
A healthy crowd stood undeterred in the rain nonetheless, as cautious players slipped their way around the field until adjusting to the conditions.
The opening period was a dull enough affair, with Westport having the best of the possession without ever really troubling the Fahy rearguard.
Rovers did have waves of attacks through Darren Creaby, Tomas Keane and Michael O’Rourke, but again Gary Cunningham, in the Westport goal, was untroubled, save for a good display of handling from long-range efforts and crosses.
A Gerry McLouhlin effort from the edge of the area and a David Hoban header that went inches wide from close range seemed the pick of the first half action, but seconds before the break the visitors found a lead.
A foul wide on the right left Danny Scahil to float a beauty of a dead ball onto the six yard line, where amongst a sea of jumping bodies, Hoban rose highest to dink the ball over the approaching fist of Gallagher, and into the top corner of the net. Fahy will have been disappointed that Westport were able to take the lead going into the break.
The second half saw no let-up in the rain but the action improved greatly, and United began pursuing a result right from the off.
Two Westport old boys – now plying their trade in Fahy - restored parity after 55 minutes, from an almost replica of the goal that had put the league leaders ahead.
In the same position wide on the right, Morgan O’Flaherty sent in a defence-splitting cross from a free-kick, and amongst many players vying for the touch, Tom McGing got a strong glancing header, directing the ball in off the crossbar.
Westport responded by bringing Alan Carroll into the game, moving David Cameron into the centre, and also withdrawing Darren Browne for Pat Fitzgerald.
The impact was instant as Westport settled back into the encounter, and Carroll in particular, set off terrorising players with deft touches and pace down the right.
Shortly after the hour mark it was déjà vu as Martin Geraghty won a free, and Kevin Joyce sent a screamer of a crossfield ball into the heart of the Fahy defence.
Dave Hoban again rose unchallenged to place the ball past Gallagher – rooted to the spot - with his second headed goal of the evening.
A flurry of changes followed, and the introduction of David Horkan to the Westport side was met was unanimous approval from their supporters.
Horkan is back in Westport from his base in Scotland for the summer to strengthen an ever-evolving side.
Joe Keane had another headed chance for Fahy which went narrowly wide, before JP O’Gorman continued his fine run of Super League goalscoring, when he found the back of the net with a header, from an Alan Carroll cross, as the final minutes approached.
Fahy Rovers
N Gallagher, M O’Flaherty, C Napier, J Keane, A Cannon, N Ryan, M O’Rourke, D Creaby, T McGing, R Fadden, T Keane.
Subs used: R Needham for T Keane, S O’Regan for T McGing, M Goggins for O’Rourke.
Westport United
G Cunningham, K Joyce, A O’Malley, M Geraghty, S Tagg, D Cameron, D Scahill, D Browne, G McLoughlin, D Hoban, JP O’Gorman.Subs used: P Fitzgerald for Browne, A Carroll for McLoughlin, D Horkan for Joyce.
Referee: D McGrath (Inver)
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