Westport Utd the last men standing in FAI Junior Cup

Westport Utd 5 Galty Celtic FC 0

Sometimes, the timing of a goal in a football match, can add to its value. On Sunday, at United Park, Westport got the timing of their first two goals, precisely right.

Kevin Kitterick’s excellently-taken goal after eleven minutes, effectively decided this tie. The early goal, settled Westport’s nerves after their defeat in the Connaught Cup last week. It also rattled Galty, who were dominant early on, and threatened the Westport goal on a number of occasions. They won two corners, and Gary Cunningham was forced to make a save.

Kitterick’s goal changed all that. Suddenly, against the run of play, Galty were behind, and had to come at Westport to get back into the game. This suited the home side who have tremendous youngsters dotted all over the park. They tackled and hassled Galty, and if they lost possession, they won it back again, quickly and easily. They passed with surgical precision – varying long and short – always moving the ball quickly. In spite of the drizzle, the football was a joy to watch.

“This is what we wanted,” Westport manager, Kevin McNamara, told The Mayo News after the final whistle. “We want to be playing in January. We want to do well in this competition. Westport are one of only two Connaught sides to win this trophy. We want to keep the Westport tradition alive.”

When you go in, one down, and get fired-up in the dressing room, for the restart, the last thing you want to do is concede quickly, when you come back onto the park. That, however, was the misfortune to befall Galty.

The timing of substitute, Adam Nugent’s first goal, was hugely significant. His strike, three minutes after the restart, mortally wounded the spirited Dublin side. Nugent had three goes at it, before the ball finally crossed the line. The Galty defence might have done better, but, at that stage it didn’t matter, they were out of the FAI Junior Cup.

Nugent’s second, on fifty-seven minutes, after Dylan O’Malley’s excellent chasing of a nothing ball, put the result beyond all doubt. Nugent claimed the match-ball with eight minutes remaining, and Dylan O’Malley made it five, near the end, to round off a great performance. Westport United go into the draw for the Fifth Round of the FAI Junior Cup - the only Mayo side remaining in the competition.

The performance was vintage Westport and truly keeps the tradition alive. The passing; the tackling; the movement; the incredible pace of the youngsters; the solidity of the more experienced players. Much of the work on this performance must be credited to Dave Hoban, Phil Keegan and Joe Lawless, who introduced so many of these youngsters to the Westport first team a couple of seasons ago, when they were joint managers. On Sunday, Kitterick, Harrison Quinn, Cillian White, Dylan O’Malley and Nugent, were all outstanding.

“We knew the importance of the competition to the club,” Kevin McNamara said. “The club has been really welcoming to me and the lads, since we came in. There’s great people at this club, as well as great tradition. Today, on the pitch, the young lads were excellent. It’s great to see their development.”

Roscommon man, Paul Mee, gave a man-of-the-match performance, on a day that any of the Westport players could have claimed it.

“Dublin teams are all well able to play,” Mee told The Mayo News. “You could see it early on with Galty. They were going for us, but when Kevin (Kitterick) scored, it settled us. It’s great to be on the front foot in games. We were comfortable in possession and we were dominant. We created chances, and we took them.”

“I’m happy to score for the team,” Adam Nugent said. “I have been on a bit of a scoreless run recently, but this was a big team effort and we’re delighted to get through.”

Galty had a few half chances. Stephen Mills went up for set-pieces and headed a couple over. Jordan Dunphy threatened on a number of occasions. The striker was hungry and tried his best. But the day belonged to Westport. Galty enjoyed their overnight in The Park Hotel Kiltimagh, but they hadn’t much luck in the final forty-five kilometres of their journey, in the 2023-24 FAI Junior Cup.

Westport United: G Cunningham, H Quinn, C McGlade, A Halpin, A Cannon, F O’Hora, Dylan O’Malley, C White, K Kitterick, D Browne, P Mee. Subs: A Nugent, C Halpin, P Calvey, David O’Malley, J Dawson.

Galty Celtic: E Curley, O Thome, D Coogan, S Mills, L Brady, N Fitzgerald, C Kearns, W Cummins, C Maguire, J Dunphy, E O’Donnell. Subs: D Murray, I Dent, L Quickley, R Church, J O’Connor.

Referee: D McGrath.