Dessie and David do the deadly
Westport United 4
D O’Malley 6, 21, D Horkan 30, 75
Crossmolina 2
S Griffin 31, A Ruddy 67
WHILE Crossmolina gave their hosts a battle on Saturday evening, Westport got on with the business of winning. The Covies occupy second place in the Super League table and displayed a confidence and composure that comes with contesting national finals and other pressure occasions. Despite frittering away a three-goal lead, the hosts remained largely unflappable in the face of some gutsy Crossmolina pressure.
The game began evenly but in the sixth minute, a goal from nothing tilted the tie in Westport’s favour. Brian Fahy found Dessie O’Malley in a forward position and the striker applied a good finish. Crossmolina flailed away for the next quarter of an hour but the second goal was not a surprise when it arrived. Colm Nevin advanced down the right wing and crossed deep to the back post, where the unmarked Dessie O’Malley planted a header into the net.
Westport scored their third on the half hour mark. David Horkan raced onto a defence-splitting pass from Dessie O’Malley before slotting past exposed goalie Johnny O’Hora. But the response from Crossmolina was as brilliant as it was controversial. Within a minute, a half-cleared corner reached Stewart Griffin, who lobbed a carefully judged shot over Westport custodian Martin McGreal. The nets in the goal were not properly tied down, however, and the ball bounced out onto the gravel behind. The referee signalled for a kickout, much to the chagrin of the Crossmolina players and bench. Even the Westport fans displayed quizzical smiles. As the referee was surrounded by an apoplectic visiting team he noticed his linesman waving the flag. A quick consultation informed him that the ball had indeed passed under the bar and the goal was awarded.
Midway through the second half, Crossmolina shocked the considerable home support by scoring again in controversial circumstances. Derek Greham took a throw on the right flank and Griffin received it on the edge of the penalty area. He aligned himself for a shot but the effort veered horribly left and was heading for the corner flag until Anthony Ruddy instinctively used his shoulder to redirect the ball goalwards. Martin McGreal could only watch helplessly as the unorthodox effort sailed over his head into the top right corner.
It would prove to be the last chance Crossmolina would get because the game was finished as a contest when David Horkan scored with a quarter of an hour remaining with a goal of stunning simplicity. Dessie O’Malley swung in a corner kick from the left and Horkan headed it into the net unchallenged. Johnny O’Brien and Horkan both had chances before the end, but O’Hora and Jason Canavan did superbly to deny them. The home side will be satisfied with a win that keeps them within touch of top spot but Crossmolina will be equally pleased with a performance that can be built upon.
