Westport United through to Quigley Cup final after six-goal thriller

Quigley Cup Semi-final

Westport United 4 Castlebar Celtic 2

Oisín McGovern in Milebush

WESTPORT United moved one step closer to ending their 23-year long wait for the Quigley Cup when they defeated Castlebar Celtic in a thrilling clash in Milebush this evening.

Although Celtic briefly levelled after going 2-0 down, a United team buttressed by Super League experience won out in a game that had some cracking goals.

Solid displays all over the field ensured that Celtic never gained a foothold.

However, the local lads never went away and Westport United weren’t safe until substitute Jack O’Malley rolled the ball home in the 81st minute.

The Covies were the dominant force in the opening exchanges.

They took the lead fortuitously when Evan Durkan’s corner was fumbled into the net by Castlebar Celtic goalkeeper Oisín Costello five minutes in.

The impressive midfielder Joe Dawson then sent a screamer in off the underside of the post from 20 yards to put United 2-0 up after 15 minutes.

The Hoops pulled one back with an even better goal when Super League regular Luke Flatley sent an unbelievable strike into the top left corner from roughly 30 yards.

The winners remained dominant, but Celtic levelled through Tiernan Brady less than a minute into the second half.

However, United re-took the lead minutes later when Cillian McGing delivered yet another long-distance belter.

The game ebbed and flowed thereafter and wasn’t put to bed until Jack O’Malley sealed the deal in injury time.

There will be a full report plus reaction from the Westport United camp in Tuesday’s print edition of The Mayo News.