SAVING THE DAY Westport Utd goalkeeper Gary Cunningham (who was named Man of the Match) is pictured saving an Athenry penalty during the shoot-out in Sunday’s Connacht Cup Final.
Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin
Westport Utd in seventh heaven
Final
Westport United 0
Athenry 0(AET, Westport won 4-2 on penalties)
Daniel Carey
GalwayWHEN Westport United last won the Connacht Junior Cup, Charles Haughey was Taoiseach and Johnny Logan had just won Eurovision. There was still a Berlin Wall but no Gary Cunningham.
United’s 25-year wait to recapture the silverware ended last Sunday in Terryland Park, the site of their last victory in the competition. And not for the first time, the heroics of a Westport goalkeeper played a major part in clinching the victory.
The odds appeared stacked against United when Athenry’s John Grealish saved Pat Fitzgerald’s initial spot-kick at the end of 110 scoreless minutes. Stephen Rabbitte and David Hoban both successfully converted, and then Westport custodian Gary Cunningham made a super one-handed stop to deny Gary Delaney. Danny Scahill restored parity at 2-2 and then man of the match Cunningham repeated the dose to keep out Alan O’Donovan, handing the Mayo lads the initiative.
Darren Browne and Athenry substitute Ray Moran both did the needful, thus leaving Kevin Joyce with the task of sealing the win. The stand-in captain played his part, and all heaven broke loose for those in red and black.
A wall of noise greeted the teams on arrival at the pitch soon to be renamed in honour of Aston Villa and Galway legend Eamon ‘Chick’ Deacy. The Westport fans were generating most of it, and such was the volume level that it took many in the crowd some time to realise that the national anthem had started.
When play started, United had the best early chance, as David Cameron’s bouncing shot from the edge of the box forced Grealish to tip the ball out for a corner. In a first half higher in endeavour than quality, Vinny O’Malley almost put the visitors ahead after 35 minutes, but his deft lob was just too high following a well-worked move. Athenry – earlier denied by a crucial Martin Geraghty tackle – came closest to scoring in the opening period. Four minutes from the break, Gary Forde back-heeled a delivery from the effective Alan O’Donovan, but Cunningham got down to save. Nil-nil after 45 minutes then.
Though Westport had struggled to keep hold of the ball amid the windy conditions in the first period, they definitely posed the bigger threat in the second period. They had an early penalty appeal for handball turned down early on – one of many decisions by referee Tommy Cormican with which the vocal Covie hordes disagreed. Shortly afterwards, Cameron’s shot was blocked in a crowded box, while Vinny O’Malley’s follow-up looped onto the crossbar just as the referee’s whistle sounded.
At the other end, Athenry’s Cathal Fahy shot narrowly wide following a stray Westport pass. With Alan Carroll putting in a stormer on the right wing, Pat Fitzgerald went close from David Hoban’s flick, but his two crosses into the box went unfinished.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however. Athenry sub Ray Moran dribbled his way into the box before Kevin Joyce put a halt to his gallop. Minutes later, Moran found himself in space on the right of the penalty area, but his delicate chip went just over the crossbar.
Westport pushed for a late winner. David Hoban’s shot was half blocked by a defender and then gathered by Grealish, while Vinny O’Malley fastened onto Fitzgerald’s through ball only to fire wide just as the flag went up for offside.
Increased rain kept chances to a minimum in extra time, but unlike their Old Trafford namesakes, Sunday will be remembered for all the right reasons by those involved with Westport United. A seventh Connacht Cup secured – and one hell of a party kicked off.
Westport UnitedG Cunningham, A O’Malley, K Joyce, S Tagg, M Geraghty, D Cameron, A Carroll, D Scahill, D Hoban, P Fitzgerald, V O’Malley.
Subs used: G McLoughlin for O’Malley (92 mins); D Browne for Cameron (99 mins).
AthenryJ Grealish, S Rabbitte, D McDonagh, R Kinneen, P Byrne, G Delaney, A O’Donovan, S Crowe, C Fahy, C Cannon, G Forde.
Subs used: R Moran for Crowe (58 mins, inj); D Carroll for Cannon (76 mins); D Cullen for Fahy (97 mins, inj).
Referee: T Cormican (Roscommon)
