Westport Utd’s wall of Danny Scahill, Dave Cameron, Kevin Joyce and David Horkan face down an Athenry free-kick.
Westport bounce back again FINAL
Westport Utd 2 Hoban 44, D O’Malley 96
Athenry 1 Carroll 4
(AET)
Daniel Carey
Milebush Park AS the domestic season swings back into action, many people believe that the Super League is Westport’s to lose. And so the question becomes: do the Covies have the hunger to go for three in a row? The answer, based on the evidence of last Saturday evening, is a resounding ‘yes’.
So is the Connacht Senior Cup the last trophy of a season just gone, or the first piece of silverware of a campaign that has only begun? Given the level of Churchillian resolve Westport displayed in Milebush Park – which suggests that more success is not far off – the former British Prime Minister’s line after El Alamein comes to mind: “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
United had the worst possible start, conceding a goal after just four minutes, and might well have been further behind before David Hoban equalised on the stroke of half time. The second half was rather less eventful than the first, and the deadlock wasn’t broken until the sixth minute of extra time, when Dessie O’Malley slotted home a penalty. It wasn’t a vintage Westport performance, but they got the job done.
Athenry bounced out of the traps, and David Carroll opened the scoring after Kevin Carr had gone close. Westport protested that they had managed to clear before the ball crossed the line, but the assistant referee flagged, and the ref pointed to the centre circle. What was followed was as lively a first half as you’re likely to see – so much so that it might have been 5-4 at the interval!
Athenry’s Cathal Fahy tested Martin McGreal with a decent effort, but Westport gradually found their feet. David Cameron headed over from Dessie O’Malley’s cross, while O’Malley himself tested Kieran Kilkelly after latching onto Colin Navin’s delivery. David Hoban’s deep cross looked to some United fans as if it had hit the net, but in fact the ball had come off the back stanchion. Later, Hoban played a one-two with Cameron before firing just wide.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic. Jamie O’Driscoll and Alan O’Donovan were causing plenty of difficulties for the Mayomen. O’Driscoll went on a Ricky Villa-esque run before it petered out, and was narrowly off target after O’Donovan had picked him out. Five minutes from half time, the talented dual player set up another great chance, and Cathal Fahy (onside despite Westport protests) rounded McGreal before inexplicably blasting over the crossbar.
Martin Keane’s lotto selling was in full swung, and then the boys in red and black hit the jackpot. From out on the left wing, Dessie O’Malley played the ball back to David Hoban, who drilled a low shot into the corner of the net. Westport fans went mad and at least one dog joined in the celebrations. It was 1-1 at half time.
The second half was less thrill-a-minute, although Westport had a penalty appeal turned down seconds before Martin Geraghty had to make a last-ditch tackle at the other end to deny Cathal Fahy. Geraghty and Joe Lawless were impressive at the back, but Westport didn’t make the best use of their possession, tending to shoot from too far and twice putting corners out of play. David Hoban was forced off through injury, while Dessie O’Malley had the ball taken off his toe by David Crimmins as he was about to shoot. United almost conceded an own goal from an Athenry corner, but there were no further goals before extra time.
Rain drove supporters into the stand, but Westport spirits were up. Substitute Kevin Joyce had a spectacular effort which went just wide. Then, David Horkan (who got the man of the match award) saw his shot parried, and Vinny O’Malley was fouled by Emmet Byrne as he was about to pull the trigger. A penalty was awarded, and Dessie O’Malley sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot-kick. The Louisburgh lion was forced off through injury in the second additional period, but the all-important goal had been scored.
John Durkan (AKA St Patrick) warned United fans that the fat lady hadn’t yet sung, and there was one late scare, when Athenry’s Paddy Quinn headed the ball against the crossbar. But when ‘championes, championes’ rang out across Milebush Park, it was the boys from the County Mayo who were on vocals.
WESTPORT UNITED M McGreal, C Navin, C Keane, M Geraghty, J Lawless, D Scahill, D Horkan, D Cameron, D O’Malley, D Hoban, V O’Malley. Subs used: K Joyce for Hoban (64 mins, inj); G McLoughlin for Keane (74 mins); P Keegan for D O’Malley (104 mins, inj).
ATHENRY K Kilkelly, S Gilhooley, D Crimmins, R Kineen, E Byrne, D Carroll, A O’Donovan, J O’Driscoll, C Fahy, P Quinn, K Carr. Subs used: C Cannon for K Carr (77 mins); D Collins for Gilhooley (80 mins); B Costello for Crimmins (100 mins).
Referee: R Flynn (Sligo)
