Round 3
Westport Utd 6
D Scahill 29, C Cameron 32, 45, 72,
J Lawless 67, P Keegan 82
Skyvalley Rovers 0
Colin McDonagh
Westport
TEN years on from their most famous hour, Westport United began their 2015/2016 FAI Junior Cup campaign with this emphatic High-Noon victory over Roscommon side, Skyvalley Rovers at the Sports Park on Sunday last.
The loyal home fans, who defied the urge to stay indoors for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, were treated to an immaculate display of attacking football from John Brennan’s charges with an unlikely goalscoring hero in Colin ‘Busty’ Cameron.
After a brief period of pressure from the visitors, the Covies took complete charge of this contest and when Danny Scahill netted on 29 minutes, there was only ever to be one outcome.
The goal was straight off the training ground. A quick free kick from Dave Cameron released Jamie Fallon down the wing. With the Skyvalley defence switched off, Fallon squared brilliantly for the onrushing Scahill, who finished with aplomb.
Three minutes later it was 2-0. Again Fallon was the architect, taking on and beating Darren Black on the right wing. His cross found Pat Fitzgerald, who brought a good save from Eoin Hardiman, but Colin Cameron was on hand to score from the rebound.
In first-half injury-time, United put this game to bed when Fitzgerald’s perfectly executed cross found Cameron’s forehead, and the winger placed his header beyond the reach of Hardiman.
Skyvalley introduced Brendan Campbell at the break and he offered a more offensive approach for the visitors. They came close on 58 minutes when Mick Lynch headed wide.
But Westport continued to impress and the introduction of Phil Keegan played a big part in United’s fourth goal. On 67 minutes, his cross wasn’t cleared and another unlikely scorer, Joe Lawless, arrived at the back post to smash home via the underside of the bar.
Quite a few of the supporters remarked that this was the best football played by the Covies in a long time, and they weren’t finished yet.
The biggest cheer of the day arrived five minutes later when Cameron completed his hat-trick, another towering header from his brother Dave’s corner, that gave Hardiman no chance.
Keegan then got in on the act with a splendid strike that fizzed into the top corner eight minutes from time to put the seal on a memorable day on the famous old ground.
Unfortunately, the hat-trick hero couldn’t persuade referee Barry Blake to give him the match ball, but his heroics ensured that the more important task of reaching round four was complete.
With performances like this, the Super League leaders will surely be setting their sights on a decent run in this prestigious tournament. Time will be the judge of that, but for now it’s onwards and upwards for the west Mayo men.
Westport United
G Cunningham, P Moran, J Lawless, M Geraghty, K Joyce, J Fallon, D Cameron, D Scahill, P Fitzgerald, V O’Malley, C Cameron.
Subs used: P Keegan for P Fitzgerald (64 mins); S Tagg for K Joyce (65 mins); J Ring for P Moran (75 mins).
Skyvalley Rovers
E Hardiman; D Nally, D Black, M Lynch, E Glennon; A Naughton, M Lennon, B Croffy, C Clogher, E Keogh; J Moore.
Sub used: B Campbell for D Nally (46 mins).
Referee: B Blake
