Westport United see off Iorras Aontaithe in FAI Junior Cup

FAI Junior Cup Round 2

Iorras Aontaithe 1

Boylan 82

Westport United 4

Halpin 14, 16 (penalty), Reilly (OG) 30, Kitterick 56

In Erris

SUPER League staples Westport United left Belmullet victorious this afternoon, beating the League One champions Iorras Aontaithe in breezy conditions.

‘United effectively killed the game by half-time, leading 3-0 at the interval thanks to a brace of goals from Cian Halpin and an own goal.

“It was physical, but we expected that,” Westport United’s interim manager Michael Horan told The Mayo News after the match.

“I thought we matched the physicality. It was a really professional display. We controlled the pace of the game and we scored the goals when we needed them.”

The hosts Iorras Aontaithe definitely had the better start. Only two minutes in, a sharp pass onto the wing brought the Westport United defence into disarray, and the cross slipped through to Owen McHale - who was probably a bit surprised himself - and his feeble shot missed the target. 

By the tenth minute, Westport had settled into the game and were the master of their affairs until half-time. 

And when Kevin Kitterick extended the lead to 4-0 after 56 minutes, the last doubters were effectively silenced. 

But the Erris men kept going and clawed one back through Marty Boylan in the 82nd minute, but United already had more than enough done to get a win in the barony.

A full report plus reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.