Deadly Dessie

Dessie does the business again

Westport United     3
Cameron 15, Geraghty 62, D O’Malley 90

Castlebar Celtic       2
McHale 19 (pen), 30

Daniel Carey
Westport

IN what’s increasingly looking like a four-horse race, these two thoroughbreds served up a game to remember at the Sports Park – and Westport won it by a neck, thanks to an injury time winner from Dessie O’Malley.
That result had looked very unlikely after an action-packed first half-hour. Gerry McLoughlin and Neil Douglas both shot narrowly wide at either end before United opening the scoring in the 15th minute. Celtic goalkeeper Pádraic Crean couldn’t hold David Horkan’s effort, and Dave Cameron was on hand to profit. Within four minutes, however, the sides were level. Referee Jimmy Cawley deemed that Austin O’Malley had fouled Neil Douglas in the area. Westport didn’t agree, and Kevin Cusack was ejected from the bench after protesting too much for the officials’ liking. Seán McHale netted the resultant penalty.
The home supporters’ mood didn’t improve when Philip Keegan put the ball in the net after Crean spilled Horkan’s free kick, only for the goal to be ruled out after the assistant referee flagged. At this point, Declan Kilkelly replaced the goalkeeper, bringing in Danny Kirby, one of a number of U-18 players to feature in two games on Saturday. Having avoided going behind for a second time, Celtic then hit the front, as goal machine Seán McHale netted a second after the ball had pinged about in the Westport box. “McHale must be heading for a place in the Guinness Book of Records,” one man texted after hearing the news of another brace, while another set his sights even higher. “Trapattoni has to bring McHale in,” he mused by SMS.
Remarkably, no yellow cards were shown in the course of the game, though there were some wild tackles. Both Stevie Ryan and Danny Fadden needed treatment for injuries sustained, and the former was eventually withdrawn. As first half injury time approached, sub goalkeeper Kirby passed his first test, saving Vinny O’Malley’s volley despite a slight deflection. The indefatigable Andy Neary made a great block before half-time.
Westport made the early running in the second half and Kirby did well to push Cameron’s curling free kick around the post. From the resultant corner, beautifully swung in by the lively Gerry McLoughlin, Martin Geraghty took advantage of the space afforded him and powered home a headed equaliser. Colin Navin, Seán Reily and Neil Douglas all had their moments, while Danny Fadden dealt confidently with most of Declan Flynn’s howitzer long throws. Joe Lawless, who defended stoutly for Westport, almost capped a good move with a rare goal, but Kirby was equal to it.
Celtic introduced Peter Dravins up front, and the U-18 captain had an immediate impact. First, he had a shot blocked by Cameron after being picked out by Neary, and before the end, he fired just over after McHale had flicked on a kickout. Horkan and Celtic sub Eoin Torphy both got through plenty of work at midfield, while Kirby kept out another effort from Cameron.
Injury time had just begun when David Horkan flicked the ball on for Dessie O’Malley, and the half-time substitute slipped it past the goalkeeper. The Sports Park erupted in joy, although a comment made to assistant referee Michael McCay in the aftermath saw another man depart the Westport dugout. Remarkably, Horkan and O’Malley almost added created a carbon copy of the goal moments later, but that effort was unsuccessful. The two teams will do it all again next Thursday.
A minute’s silence was observed beforehand in memory of the late Tommy Kennedy, uncle of Westport United captain Brian Kennedy.

WESTPORT UNITED
D Fadden, C Navin, A O’Malley, M Geraghty, J Lawless, D Cameron, D Horkan, D Scahill, V O’Malley, G McLoughlin, P Keegan.
Subs used: D O’Malley for Keegan (h-t); B Kennedy for V O’Malley (70 mins); L Keegan for Scahill (80 mins).

CASTLEBAR CELTIC
P Crean, N Walsh, J Minogue, D Flynn, S Reilly, A Neary, D Fallon, S Ryan, S McHale, N Douglas, E Crean. Subs used: D Kirby for P Crean (26 mins); E Torphy for Ryan (45 mins, inj): P Dravins for Douglas (71 mins).

Referee: J Cawley