Westport United Under-18s secure double with first Quigley Cup in 23 years

Quigley Cup Final

Westport United 2

’13 Daniel O’Malley ‘ Evan Durkan ‘64

Ballyheane 0

Oisín McGovern in Milebush

A 23-year wait was ended when Westport United lifted the Quigley Cup at the expense of Ballyheane in Milebush this afternoon.

The win - which marks a league and cup double for this Westport United Under-18 team - came at the end of a game that United never looked like losing.

Ballyheane were dogged and kept up a positive brand of football throughout, but were no match for a Westport United team filled with players set to grace the Mayo Super League for years to come.

Myles Staunton’s lads enjoyed most of the possession before Daniel O’Malley opened the scoring in the 13th minute after heading in a wicked cross from Simeon Popov.

United had a few more chances before half-time, as did Ballyheane, who saw Dylan Stevenson and the lively Jude Lavin come close before the break.

The Covies missed a chance to go 2-0 up when John Murphy won a penalty in the 59th minute, only for Daniel O’Malley to be denied by a fantastic save from Ballyheane’s Euan McGowan.

However, Westport United made amends shortly after when substitute Evan Durkan fired in a delightful effort into the bottom right corner from outside the box.

Ballyheane held their own thereafter, but failed to muster a challenge that could stop Westport United from making history by sending the Quigley Cup down along the Carrowbeg River for the first time in 23 years.

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