Westport United get the job done

Westport get the job done again


ROUND 3
Swinford  0
Westport Utd  2
O’Gorman 65, Hoban 70

Kevin Moran
Cloonaghboy

THERE was no cup upset in Swinford on Sunday as visitors Westport United did just enough to seal their passage through to round four.
Despite dominating possession throughout the game, Westport found a resilient Swinford side hard to break down. It took them all of 65 minutes to break the deadlock and lift the pressure off their shoulders.
The home side had the better of the chances early on with a couple of efforts from Chris Reddington and Liam Moran just going wide of the target from distance. Their most clear-cut opportunity fell to striker Ian Price, who found himself one on one with goalkeeper MicheΡl Gibbons, but the towering goalkeeper managed to force Price wide of the goal, and his shot from an awkward angle was easily collected by Gibbons.
The outcome of the game could have been altogether different had that effort gone in, as up to that juncture, Westport were struggling to find their feet in tough conditions for possession football. The visitors’ best chance of the half came courtesy of midfielder David Cameron, whose glancing header bounced wide of the left post after some good work down the wing by Colm Keane.
Ian Price again had a chance to put his side in front just before the break when a cross from Patrick Maloney was put into the six yard box but the striker just couldn’t connect with his head.
The second half saw more of the same, with Westport controlling possession and Swinford looking to break at pace through Liam Moran and substitute Martin Sweeney. However, it was Westport who created the majority of the chances and it looked like it was only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock.
First, David Cameron fired wide from 25 yards out, and then David Hoban saw his headed effort drift wide of the goal despite being unmarked in the middle of the penalty area.
It was Hoban’s strike partner JP O’Gorman who eventually opened the scoring midway through the second half. A cross into the box from Seamus Higgins found O’Gorman close to goal, and the talisman nodded the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
The goal seemed to  knock the life out of the home side, who had defended well up until that point. Just five minutes later, Westport had their second of the game – this time Hoban atoning for his earlier missed chances.
A cross whipped in towards the goalmouth was fisted clear by Swinford goalkeeper Paddy Ward, but the ball found David Cameron, whose chip to the back post was headed in by the unmarked Hoban.
Swinford tried in vain to pull a goal back late on, but found stern resistance in the likes of Martin Geraghty and Kevin Joyce at the back for Westport.
The Covies had a chance to make it 3-0 just before the finish when Hoban managed to sneak in behind the defence after a clearance downfield, but his shot was well saved by Paddy Ward.
Westport are at home to Manulla in Round 4 next Sunday, November 25 at 2pm.

Swinford
P Ward, K Kavanagh, A McLoughlin, S Kenny, N Fallon, R Quinn, L Moran, C Reddington, I Price, D Munnelly, P Maloney.
Subs used: M Sweeney, C Kendrick, B Gallagher.

Westport United
M Gibbons, S Higgins, K Joyce, S Tagg, M Geraghty, D Cameron, A Carroll, P Folan, D Hoban, JP O’Gorman, C Keane.
Subs used: M MacNally, D Browne.