Erris Utd 0
Westport United 1
Hoban 72
Anton McNulty
Carne Nash
WESTPORT United made the long journey to Erris on Sunday and did what they had to do to come away from north Mayo with maximum points after a hard-fought, if unconvincing one goal win.
The game was by no means a classic with neither side dominating the play for any more than ten minutes at a time. For long periods it looked like a single score would be enough to win the game and so it proved in the 72nd minute when David Hoban showed his predatory instincts to make the breakthrough and score from six yards.
The home side will be disappointed to have conceded that late after they had limited Westport to half chances, but after the goal Erris never looked like getting the equaliser.
The locals made the better start to the game and after five minutes a Brendan Nallen free-kick struck the post. Had it gone in it could have changed the course of the match.
Erris were getting some success down the flanks through Garritt O’Malley on the left and Michael Meeneghan on the right, which resulted in the two visiting full-backs, Joe Lawless and Austin O’Malley, receiving yellow cards inside the first ten minutes.
After O’Malley’s booking, the resultant free-kick caused panic in the Westport box and only a last ditch challenge by Colm Keane denied Eric Reilly. They also had a shout for a penalty when Colin Navin looked to have handled the ball in the area but the referee judged it to be accidental.
The visitors gradually brought themselves back into the game with Dave Horkan showing some nice touches in the middle of the field but it was a goal-keeping error in the 18th minute which gave them their first chance on goal. Erris ‘keeper, Enda Conroy failed to make sufficient purchase with his punch and, with an open goal at his mercy, Colin Navin scuffed his shot wide.
Stephen Barrett was beginning to make his presence felt in midfield and he was involved in two movements in the 27th and 29th minutes which nearly broke the deadlock. After some good interplay between Barrett, Nallen and Jason O’Donnell, Nallen found space on the edge of the area but had his shot saved by McGreal.
Moments later, Barrett found space in the middle of the field before playing the ball to the onrushing Nallen. With the Westport defence retreating and space in front of him, Nallen raced forward and sent a fierce drive just wide of the right hand post.
As the half drew to a close, Westport were forced to make a change when Brendan O’Connor replaced Martin Geraghty in the heart of the United defence.
The start of the second half began with a faster tempo but the play was mainly concentrated around the middle of the field. Erris started brighter but could not threaten the visitors goal as Peter Burke and Brendan O’Connor kept the Erris forward line at bay.
Apart from a few scares in both penalty areas neither side were creating any clear-cut opportunities and a nil-nil draw looked on the cards.
As the half progressed, Erris started to tire as the game became stretched and Westport began to capitalise. Brendan O’Connor should have opened the scoring in the 65th minute when he lost his marker at a corner but directed his free header straight at Conroy.
But seven minutes later they broke the deadlock with Brendan O’Connor again involved. He latched onto a long throw into the area where his shot was saved by Conroy, but Hoban was lurking for the loose ball and dispatched the rebound into the net.
Try as they might, Erris could not break down the Westport rearguard and Dessie O’Malley and sub’ Brian Fahy could have secured the win late on. In the end the single goal was enough.
Erris United
E Conroy, D McDonnell, L Donoghue, K O’Connor, J O’Donnell, J Gaughan, B Nallen, M Meenaghan, E Reilly, S Barrett, G O’Malley.
Subs used: A Howard for M Meenaghan; P Munnelly for S Barrett.
Westport United
M McGreal, M Geraghty, P Burke, A O’Malley, J O’Brien, C Navin, C Keane, J Lawless, D O’Malley, D Hoban, D Horkan.
Subs used: B O’Connor for M Geraghty; B Fahy for D Hoban; B Kennedy for C Navin.
Referee: M Walsh (Castlebar).
