History repeats itself as Westport United win out

History repeats itself as Westport win out


Semi-final
Westport Utd 1
K Joyce 109 (pen)

Mervue Utd 0

Neill O’Neill
Westport

ELEVEN months on from that historic day in Terryland Park, and Westport United’s bid to retain the Connacht Cup was hanging on the same scenario shortly after 4pm last Sunday, as on that wild but unforgettable day in Galway last year.
Kevin Joyce stood over the ball 12 yards from goal after Westport were awarded a penalty against Mervue after 109 minutes of hard-fought semi-final stalemate. Joyce (as in last year’s final, captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Joe Lawless) did not hesitate to step up to the mark and shoulder the responsibility of such a decisive moment.
As in Terryland, he placed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, and, just like last May 13, whipped the large Westport contingent into a frenzy.
The Sports Park has seen some great days, and though Westport United are planning a move away from the venue, last Sunday will provide lasting memories of another wonderful occasion on the hallowed turf. Having not contested a provincial final for 25 years until 12 months ago, to reach back to back finals is a remarkably impressive achievement for this excellent football side. Westport will meet stiff resistance in the final from Ballinasloe Town, who will be looking to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat by Westport. That was arguably Westport’s hardest game of the tournament last year, and James Fahy, Kieran Mulchrone and their players will be taking nothing for granted ahead of their date with destiny.
Several hundred people packed into The Sports Park on Sunday for the biggest game to have been played there in many years. Westport played five across the centre once again, with David Hoban acting as a lone striker, and Shaun Tagg dropping into the centre half berth vacated by the suspended Lawless, who – having missed the Connacht Cup last year – will be available for the final. David Horkan and Patrick Fitzgerald, who each played the full two hours on Sunday, will have to return from Scotland and Spain respectively once again for next month’s final, which is clashing with Mayo’s Connacht Championship opening match against Galway in Salthill. There were whispers of a potential date change on Sunday, but options, for various reasons, look extremely limited from a Westport perspective.
Chances were scarce against Mervue, with the visitors enjoying the majority of them in the first half. Westport handled the pressure effectively, and Mervue were lacking a clinical finisher. They had several chances throughout, from which they should have done better, but Gary Cunningham never looked uncomfortable in the Westport goal. However, when Westport began creating their own threat, they were also guilty of some misfiring, with Phil Keegan putting a great chance from close range over the bar, and Martin Geraghty landing a header onto it.
Ninety minutes and extra time couldn’t separate the sides, and the dreaded penalty shootout was looming when David Hoban took possession into the Mervue box and laid the ball off to Phil Keegan. The pacy winger was in a great goalscoring position but was taken down from behind by David Dowling, and referee Paul Kilcoyne immediately pointed to the spot and dismissed the Galway man. There was no argument to be made about the decision. It was a harsh way to exit the competition, given that Mervue had acquitted themselves well, but a foul is a foul and that this one happened in the Mervue penalty area so very late in the game, was to Westport’s favour.
Joyce, as he had done in Terryland, executed his penalty perfectly into the corner, and Mervue’s Paul Sinnott was also shown a red card after the full-time whistle for dissent.
Work remains to be done, but another big occasion awaits, and this Westport side is certainly one step closer to legendary status after Sunday.

Westport United
G Cunningham, A O’Malley, M Geraghty, S Tagg, K Joyce, D Cameron, D Horkan, P Fitzgerald, P Keegan, G McLoughlin, D Hoban.
Subs used: D Browne for McLoughlin; M McNally for Geraghty.

Mervue United
B O’Donohue, E Brown, D Dowling, V O’Connor, K McHugh, D McLoughlin, A Finnerty, P Sinnott, S Cunningham, D Ryan, T Walsh.
Subs used: S Larkin, B Meaney.

Referee: P Kilcoyne (Sligo)