Two-goal ’Kipper’

Two-goal ‘Kipper’ on the mark

Westport United    3
Joyce 26, 28, O’Malley 40

Ballina Town        2
M Duffy 1, 60

Neill O’Neill
Glenhest

WESTPORT had to battle hard for their first win of the season last weekend, eventually overcoming a determined and depleted Ballina side, thanks to a first half double from Kevin Joyce and a third before the interval from Vinny O’Malley.
However, the ever-prolific Michael Duffy was on target twice for Ballina, and the visitors caused enough nervous moments in the Wesport defence to have earned a draw in a match that could have gone either way.
Arctic conditions set the scene for this encounter, which was played in a bitterly cold Glenhest due to ongoing works at the Sports Park in Westport. The game was less than 20 seconds old when Westport’s David Horkan achieved what is surely a new Super League record for the quickest penalty conceded, after he chopped down Brendan Lavelle in the box.
Up stepped Michael Duffy to send Martin McGreal the wrong way from the spot and net his first goal of the season. Ballina might have doubled their lead after 20 minutes but Tom O’Connor saw his lob go narrowly wide. At the other end Niall Gallagher was keeping Westport at bay, producing two excellent saves from Vinny O’Malley and Dessie O’Malley.
On 26 minutes the penalty count and the sides were level when Fergus Quinn handled the ball in the box and Dessie O’Malley placed it on the spot. His effort was well saved by Niall Gallagher, but Kevin Joyce reacted quickest and lifted the ball into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later Joyce had his third goal in two games. He took possession outside the Ballina box and, whilst giving the impression that he was looking for a passing option, cleverly curled the ball into the side of the net. Gallagher got a hand to it, but the finish was top quality.
Westport came close to a third when Colm Keane curled a 30-yard free kick at the target, forcing Gallagher to go full stretch to put it onto the crossbar. The Westport pressure finally paid off five minutes from half time, however. Dessie O’Malley fought for possession on the end line and played the ball across the box, where it was picked up by David Cameron. He played it out to Vinny O’Malley, who swung his right foot at it first time, and made it three.
On the hour mark, Ballina had their second goal after more indecisive defending in the Westport area allowed Andrew Melia to tee the ball up for Michael Duffy, who finished with style, in a similar fashion and from a similar distance, to the way Vinny O’Malley had at the same end.
The visitors were not giving up without a fight, and Declan O’Connor would have equalised soon afterwards had Martin McGreal not been alert to pull his goal-bound cross out of the top corner.
Kevin Joyce was denied a career first hat-trick on 67 minutes after the referee’s assistant flagged for offside, when it seemed that Dessie O’Malley – who didn’t touch the ball – was the villain. David Hoban, who replaced the injured Brian Kennedy, also had a goal disallowed, presumably for a high boot, though the reason was unclear.
Hoban then squandered a glorious chance to seal victory, blasting badly wide from the edge of the area after he found himself alone and bearing down on goal.
Ballina had one final chance to earn a point, but substitute Daniel Fahy saw Martin McGreal make a fine save to ensure the champions had their first win of the new season.

Westport United
M McGreal, C Navin, D Horkan, A O’Malley, C Keane, B Kennedy, D Cameron, D Scahill, K Joyce, V O’Malley, D O’Malley. Subs used: G McLoughlin for D O’Malley; D Hoban for Kennedy; M Geraghty for Scahill.

Ballina Town
N Gallagher, D Tansey, D O’Hara, T O’Connor. M Knight, D O’Connor, P Duffy, F Quinn, B Lavelle, M Duffy, A Melia. Subs used: D Fahy for D O’Connor; K McCarron for P Duffy.

Referee: J Blake