Westport United’s cup dream over

United’s cup dream is over


ROUND 5
Athenry 3
O’Driscoll 5, Fahy 59, Rabbitte 67 (pen)

Westport Utd 1
Joyce 50

Mike Rafferty
Athenry

Having been thrown a lifeline with a Kevin Joyce equaliser just after half time, missed chances proved to be Westport United’s downfall as they exited the Connacht Cup in Athenry on Sunday afternoon.
Generally outplayed in the first half, they were lucky to go in just one in arrears as the home side enjoyed the majority of possession. Athenry could afford the luxury of a missed penalty as Westport struggled to get out of the blocks.
However, the resumption saw the visitors rise to the occasion. The introduction of David Hoban, fresh from his boxing exploits in Dublin, reinvigorated the side. Dave Cameron, David Horkan and Danny Scahill began to have more of an influence on proceedings. Ultimately, however, they failed to build on their third-quarter supremacy.
Athenry were certainly the more industrious side in the early exchanges, and should have taken the lead in the opening minute, but towering centre half Emmett Byrne sent a free header over the bar from just six yards. However, they made a breakthrough on five minutes when Brian Mannion crossed from the right and Jamie O’Driscoll ran on unchecked to direct a downward header past Niall Gallagher for a 1-0 lead.
Athenry’s Cathal Fahy had a piledriver blocked on the line by Colm Keane, while Mannion fired across the face of goal from a tight angle. On 24 minutes, the home side should have added a second when Joyce was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, but Stephen Rabbitte blasted the resultant penalty off the top of the crossbar.
Having been overrun by O’Driscoll and Crowe in the middle of the park, Westport changed from a 4-5-1 formation to a more regular 4-4-2 on the half hour mark. Joyce moved into a forward role alongside Gerry McLoughlin, while Colm Keane dropped wide to the left. The change gave them a little more momentum, but apart from a late weak effort by McLoughlin, the home custodian was rarely tested in the opening half.
Hoban’s introduction at the break paid quick dividends for just five minutes later, the front man collected a Scahill throw-in and drilled in a cross that was met outside the area by Kevin Joyce and his shot was always going away from Kieran Kilkelly to tie up matters at 1-1.
Moments later, Joe Lawless and McLoughlin combined to send Dave Cameron through, but with just the goalkeeper to beat, he pushed his effort beyond the far post. Byrne maintained the status quo as he cleared a Cameron cross with Hoban lurking.
Having survived some severe pressure, Athenry swung the game their way with two goals in eight minutes. Little seemed on when Fahy got possession outside the box, but after making space for himself, he curled a stunning left-footed effort beyond Gallagher for a 2-1 lead.
The custodian then kept out Conor Cannon’s effort at the near post, before the game was finally turned on its head on 67 minutes. Scahill was adjudged to have upended Forde in the box, and Rabbitte made no mistake from the spot on this occasion for a 3-1 advantage.
Westport substitute Dessie O’Malley failed to hit the target in another one-on-one situation, while Hoban was off target with a header. A David Horkan free kick got the better of the wall, but was easily gathered by Kilkelly.

Athenry
K Kilkelly, S Rabbitte, M Noone, R Kinneely, E Byrne, C Cannon, S Crowe, J O’Driscoll, G Forde, B Mannion, C Fahy.
Subs used: M Moran for Cannon (79 mins); W Carr for Mannion (79 mins); N Hynes for Fahy (89 mins).

Westport United
N Gallagher, J Lawless, R McLoughlin, M Geraghty, C Cameron, D Cameron, D Scahill, D Horkan, K Joyce, C Keane, G McLoughlin.
Subs used: D Hoban for Keane (h/t); D O’Malley for McLoughlin (57 mins); D Mulchrone for McLoughlin (74 mins).

Referee: P Forde (Galway)