McNamara’s band face their biggest challenge yet

The visit of Evergreen FC, to United Park, for the FAI Junior Cup Fifth Round tie, on Sunday next, will be the biggest challenge Westport United boss, Kevin McNamara, will have faced since he took charge of the side a year ago. 

The Kilkenny outfit are unbeaten this season, but of more concern to Westport, will be the fact that Evergreen have won the Kilkenny and District League for the past six seasons and are going for a record-breaking seventh.

“They are a top side,” McNamara told The Mayo News. “We know that. They are one of the top junior football clubs in the country, and will be one of the favourites to win the competition outright. Our job is to try and stop that on Sunday.”

Kevin McNamara knows Evergreen from his days managing Castlerea Celtic in the Roscommon and District League.

“I saw them against Boyle Celtic, a few years ago. They won that one on penalties. They were a really good side then, and they have got better since. They have a settled squad, all close to the thirty mark, so they have a lot of experience playing together. We know some of their players, especially Mikey Drennan and Johnny Dunleavy, from their League of Ireland days.”

Both have impressive CVs. Drennan joined the Aston Villa youth set-up, from Evergreen in 2011. He had loan spells with Carlisle United and Portsmouth before joining Shamrock Rovers. He has also lined out for Sligo Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic. Donegal-man, Dunleavy, played underage for Wolves, before joining Barnet on loan. He played 158 times for Cork City and later played for Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps. Both will be available on Sunday.

Apart from these marquee players, Evergreen have quality all over the park. It will be a tough test for the young Westport side.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for us,” cNamara said. “We know we can play football with the best of them, but Evergreen will be a big strong team and it is a test for us, especially the younger players, who have made such progress. A lot of them were introduced by Joe (Lawless), Phil (Keegan,) and Dave (Hoban,) that year they managed Westport. We’ve been building on that, and this match will give those players more experience.”

Westport will be without the vastly experienced Joe Lawless, who played in the club's famous FAI Junior Cup win in 2005. Caoimhín O’Toole, also remains on the injured list. On the positive side, Seán Heaney is available, after his return from Longford Town, and the Mayo contingent of Gary Cunningham, Cillian McGlade, Harrison Quinn, Cillian White, Darren Browne and Adam Nugent, all saw game time on Sunday last, as Mayo progressed in the Oscar Traynor Cup.

Evergreen manager Gary Maher admits he doesn’t know too much about the present Westport side.

“They have a big tradition in this competition,” Maher told The Mayo News, “and a big tradition in the game. It’s difficult to find out much about teams when it’s their off season, but we know they have seven players involved with the Mayo Oscar Traynor team. We know how they did in the league and the cups, last season, and we know they are used to dealing with big games in their off season.”

Maher doesn’t accept that Evergreen are automatically favourites to win the tie.

“At this stage in the competition, a home draw is very important. Westport are at home and they will have a big crowd roaring them on. So at best it’s fifty-fifty in the favourites stakes, but if we are favourites, we can deal with that too. We’re coming up on Saturday and staying locally Saturday night. We’re looking forward to the game.” 

Evergreen have scored eighteen goals and conceded one, in the four previous rounds of this competition. Whilst Westport haven’t been as prolific, (scoring 10,) they are yet to concede in their four wins. They’ll want to keep it that way, on Sunday.