Westport are worthy winners

Westport worthy winners


Westport United 4
R McLoughlin 43, 78,
D O’Malley 47 (pen), 69

Manulla 0

Daniel Carey
Westport

LIKE Shakira’s hips, league tables don’t lie, and like Jesus at Cana, Westport United saved the best for last – or more specifically, the last part of the last game. Needing a draw at the Sportspark last Saturday to retain the Super League title, they took a while to kick into gear, but once they broke the deadlock, they never looked back.
By the end, they had scored four times, and might have added quite a few to that tally were it not for the heroics of Manulla goalkeeper James Jennings. But it hadn’t started out so comfortably. The visitors went close after three minutes, as Micheál Jennings set up Dessie Campbell. As Westport appealed for offside – a contentious issue throughout, as referee Mick Walsh was forced to make the calls in the absence of neutral assistants – the front man failed to successfully lob Gary Cunningham. It was midway through the half before United had their first real chance, striking the woodwork from a corner kick, and Joe Lawles had a shot saved.
As half time approached, Vinny O’Malley had a go with a commendably ambitious effort from way out on the left, though it flashed just wide. Then Brian Kennedy was narrowly off target. Next, a superb move saw Lawless and Gerry McLoughlin combine before great work by Dave Cameron set up Dessie O’Malley, but the front man’s header failed to beat Jennings.
From the resultant corner, however, Gerry McLoughlin swung the ball in, and left back Ray McLoughlin got to the near post and headed in the opening goal. One could sense the relief on the Newport Road. Indeed, Westport might have grabbed a second prior to the interval, but Kennedy shot wide after the hard-working Gerry McLoughlin had fastened onto a poor Manulla pass.
A second goal, just two minutes after the restart, effectively made the game safe. One number seven fouled the other, Ger Keane making a clumsy tackle on the lively Kennedy, and Dessie O’Malley netted the resultant penalty, although Jennings got a hand to it.
The Covies continued to make the running. Jennings kept out a curling snapshot from Gerry McLoughlin, and Dessie O’Malley had his head in his hands after shooting wide from the left. Moments after Enda McGahon volleyed wide from Roger Clarke’s crossfield ball, however, O’Malley was making amends. The man who scored eight against Bangor Hibs had time to control Gerry McLoughlin’s cross before firing home.
Westport turned on the style thereafter. Cameron played a one-two with Gerry McLoughlin but failed to catch hold of the shot; Dessie O’Malley’s attempt at a hat-trick produced a bout of what one spectator called ‘double ping-pong from the ’keeper to the post’.
One man who was officially working at seven o’clock noted that it was gone 20 past the hour, but had no intention of missing the end. So he was still around to see Ray McLoughlin grab an unlikely second, a cracking effort that flew into the bottom corner from distance. David Horkan and Jorge Ferrando came on and made effective bursts, the latter (the first Spaniard to win a Mayo League medal?) making his run to a shout of ‘Come on, Raul!’
There was still time for more Westport target practice and more Jennings heroics. Dessie O’Malley, Cameron and Horkan were all denied by the goalkeeper, while Manulla substitute Damien Ansbro also lent a hand. Vinny O’Malley also went close, but Westport had sealed this with something to spare.
With Packie Bonner (in town for the Eamon and Teresa Duffy Cup) watching on, Joe Lawless accepted the cup from Pádraig McHale, Mayo League Vice-Chairman, who raised a laugh by introducing the formalities with the words ‘Tá an áthas orm …’. The Westport United captain paid tribute to the ‘massive commitment’ put in by the members of the squad, and to the club management and officials. The late Tommy Kennedy, Brian’s uncle and a renowned United supporter, was also remembered. As the cameras clicked and children joined the team photo, one man joked: “We’re getting sick of winning at this stage!” One suspects he’s in the minority.

WESTPORT UNITED
G Cunningham, A O’Malley, R McLoughlin, M Geraghty, J Lawless, D Cameron, B Kennedy, D Scahill, V O’Malley, G McLoughlin, D O’Malley. Subs used: D Horkan for Kennedy (70 mins); J Ferrando for R McLoughlin (80 mins); M McGreal for Cunningham (87 mins).

MANULLA
J Jennings, G Durkan, C McGlade, P Canavan, B Cuffe, M Jennings, G Keane, J Cunningham, D Campbell, E McGahon, R Clarke. Subs used: D Ansbro for Keane (50 mins); MJ Campbell for M Jennings (75 mins); C Walsh for Durkan (77 mins).

Referee: M Walsh