Westport win

Westport send out a signal of intent

Westport United   4
G McLoughlin 2, D O’Malley 23, 44, Cameron 45
Snugboro United 1
P Curry 89

Michael Duffy
Westport

CHAMPIONS Westport United sent out a warning to the rest of the Super League that they are far from a spent force with a scintillating first half performance that blew away league leaders Snugboro.
Having won three of the last five titles, it would be easy to start questioning the desire of the current squad, especially up against a Snugboro team brimful of fresh impetus and drive. But the Covies were most definitely up for this one – and the game was over by half time.
Snugboro saw loads of the ball in that opening half but could not create any clear-cut chances, whereas the home side looked like they could score any time they attacked, and Dessie O’Malley’s two first-half finishes were simply top class.
The game was played in monsoon-like conditions, a nightmare scenario for a goalkeeper to make his debut, as was the case for Richie Byrne, the latest addition to the Snugboro revolution. The visitors were behind inside two minutes. Ray McLoughlin swung in a dangerous ball from the right flank which Dave Cameron got his head to at the near post. After hesitancy from Byrne and Anthony Healy, Gerry McLoughlin nipped in to toe-poke home a soft opener. Shortly afterwards, Dessie O’Malley’s opportunistic strike from 30 yards fizzed off the surface and caught Byrne by surprise, but he managed to get his fingertips to the ball and knock it onto the post.
Westport’s momentum was interrupted when Danny Scahill had to leave the pitch with an ankle injury and Snugboro gradually settled into the game, with Stevie Gavin curling in a nice free, but the unmarked Paul Curry failed to connect properly with his header. The home side still looked dangerous going forward with Dave Cameron bringing the best out of Byrne.
The second goal came on 23 minutes as sub David Horkan drove through the middle and played a perfectly weighted pass to O’Malley. He still had a lot of work to do but he made it look easy, taking the ball in his stride and side-footing the ball across Byrne in the bottom corner.
Snugboro desperately needed a way back into the game before the break and their best chance came as Paul Curry headed the ball off the crossbar. It seemed easier for Seán Curry to score but he blazed over. They were made to pay for their profligacy as Westport wrapped up the game in the closing stages of the first half.
Horkan was again involved in the third goal on 44 minutes, feeding the lively Gerry McLoughlin, who again slipped in Dessie O’Malley behind a static Snugboro offside trap. O’Malley was again as cool as a cucumber, giving Byrne no chance with another clinical finish.  Snugboro now just wanted to get into the comfort of a dry dressing room and regroup, but in injury time a fourth goal finished the game as a contest. In his attempt to gather after Gerry McLoughlin’s snapshot, Byrne pushed the ball into the path of Dave Cameron, who side-footed home.
The second half was all about saving face for Snugboro. They battled hard but the sheer physical presence of Austin O’Malley and Eoghan McHale, who has re-signed from St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin, meant clear-cut chances were limited. Paul Curry headed over a Roughneen free and a Gavin corner before Anthony Healy suffered a horrible-looking leg injury which necessitated his removal to hospital with what looked like ligament damage.
In-form Westport stopper Danny Fadden made a cracking save to deny Paul Curry, who had shown great skill to beat Colin Navin. Philip Keegan added some life to the Westport attack late on, but Snugboro finally got the goal their endeavour deserved when the industrious Paul Curry side-footed through a host of players and under an unsighted Fadden.

Westport United
D Fadden; C Navin, A O’Malley, E McHale, C Cameron; D Cameron, D Scahill, B Kennedy, R McLoughlin; D O’Malley, G McLoughlin.
Subs used: D Horkan for Scahill; P Keegan for D O’Malley, V O’Malley for R McLoughlin.

Snugboro United
R Byrne; P Walsh, D Conway, D Flynn, A Healy; B McLoughlin, J McCarthy, S Gavin, D Roughneen; S Curry, A Curry.
Subs used: M McGreal for S Curry; E Walsh for Healy, J McDonnell for McLoughlin.

Referee: J Blake