Westport may shade it

Westport may just shade cup derby

Preview
Rob Murphy

THERE have been one or two crucial derby clashes between Castlebar and Westport down through the years but never has one game between these two sides had as much at stake. The All-Ireland Junior Cup competition is now fully established as a marquee event in the calendar and Castlebar’s inaugural game could not be more important.
The 16-team open draw has paired the fierce rivals together with one Connacht side guaranteed to advance in this competition for the first time ever.
Westport enter the tie as favourites despite trailing their near neighbours by three points in the league table. They have a game in hand and their three defeats so far this season have all been by less than seven points. The momentum is starting to turn in the Bulls’ favour and they will relish the trip to Cloondeash.
If Castlebar are to upset the odds and make home advantage count, they will need to match the Bulls up front and give their talented backs space and time to create the chances. However, they will be facing a rejuvenated Westport three-quarter line boosted by the inclusion of Mayo footballer James Gill, who could be a key component in the centre for the visitors.
Westport are short on match practice having played just once in December due to cancellations. In that game they secured an impressive victory on home turf over Corrib and by all accounts the 2006 Junior League champions played their best rugby of the season so far.
For Castlebar the question marks are once again to the fore at the midway point in the season. A blistering start saw them pull clear at the top of the table and secure a district league final place, only for the momentum to be lost with a heavy defeat away to Monivea and a draw away to winless Tuam. Some say we have already seen the best of Castlebar this season. Coach Seamus King is aware of the criticism.
“This is a perennial challenge for us,” he said. “In previous campaigns we have got to this point in the season in good shape only to fall away, but sooner or later we are going to get it right and why not now? We have a good mix of youth and power up front and youth and pace out wide. We have never seen such numbers at training as we have had this season, and there is a real feeling that we are capable of pushing on from here.”
The signs certainly are good for Castlebar this season. Their second XV are flying in Division 2 and look like genuine contenders even at this early stage. In Division One they have lost just twice in the league and sit in fourth place (second among the junior clubs) and are very much in contention for another top four place among the junior side which would secure entry into next season’s AIB Cup.
Paul Coady and Marty McNicholas are the main injury concerns for the home side and both will be key losses for King if they don’t make the contest. But this season the have a back row with experience and power behind a front five that have made major strides in the campaign.
The season began with a string of narrow defeats for Westport that proved to be a considerable set back. Player/coach Eddie Walsh feels they should have won at least two of those but the defeats haven’t affected the morale and they seem ready for a gritty cup battle.
“There is a good feeling in the camp at the moment,” said the long-serving out-half. “Some of the younger lads like Ryan Cafferkey and Kevin Corcoran have give the squad a fresh boost this season and they along with the rest of the squad are beginning to really find there form. A local derby like this always has a lot at stake but this is extra special. It is a day when grinding out even the narrowest of victories is all that matters.”
Walsh and his fellow Westport coach Marius Bosman will be well aware that on paper they have the stronger side, especially in the tight five.

VERDICT
Westport to win by 7.