Westport Utd 1-0 Mervue Utd A (Connacht Junior Cup Quarter Final)

Mervue Utd bowed out of the Connacht Junior Cup for the second year in a row at the hands of Westport Utd as JP O’Gorman's 24th minute goal settled this quarter final tie at the Westport Sports Park on Sunday afternoon.

Mervue started well and dominated the opening 20 minutes and should have been ahead in that opening period but the home side’s goal changed the complexion of the game as Westport drew in confidence after scoring.

Mervue attacked in waves from the kick off and were denied after just five minutes when Westport keeper Gary Cunningham, who had an excellent game for the Mayo league against Galway FC earlier in the week, somehow blocked Simon Walsh’s effort following Seamie Crowe’s corner kick.

With Seamie Crowe and Simon Walsh looking lively in the opening exchanges it looked only a matter of time before the visitor’s took the lead. They went close again on 22 minutes after a good move saw Barry Moran knock the ball back to Simon Walsh but his effort was block by left back Colm Keane with a last ditch effort.

The only goal of the game followed two minutes later as Mervue lost possession in the Westport half and then failed to cut out a forward ball which David Hoban flicked on to winger Philip Keegan whose initial shot was blocked by Brian O’Donoghue. Keegan collected the loose ball and squared to the unmarked JP O’Gorman who had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net.

Westport came to life after the goal as O'Gorman had a header brilliantly pushed away by Brian O’Donoghue for a corner on 27 minutes and then resultant corner kick delivery hit the far post. Westport’s David Hoban then shot over from a good position following a ball into the box from busy midfielder Dave Cameron as Mervue failed to clear from a corner.

Dara Ryan replaced Dan Tuck seven minutes before the break as Mervue looked to draw level before the interval but some shocking offside decisions continue to frustrate the visiting side as Westport went in ahead at the interval.

Captain Derek McWalter fired wide from the edge of the box just after the break before Tommy Walsh strode forward and unleashed a smashing low strike which Cunningham turned around the post for a corner on 55 minutes.

From the corner Seamie Crowe saw his volleyed effort saved by Cunningham once again. Tommy Walsh’s follow up effort was then blatantly blocked from crossing the line by a Westport defender’s hand with Mervue's penalty claims ignored by both referee and his assistant as all in the ground saw what clearly was a penalty.  

Mervue threatened again on 61 minutes as Tommy Walsh’s cross picked out Dara Ryan but Joe Lawless headed a clearance behind for a corner. At the other end Westport’s Pat Fitzgerald saw his volleyed effort following a corner brilliantly pushed away for another corner four minutes later, while Keegan headed the corner delivery just wide at the back post.

Good play down the right from Darvin Dowling saw the full back pass to Dara Ryan who played a lovely ball out to Adam Lee whose dangerous ball into box required a touch but no Mervue player could provide the finish with 15 minutes remaining.

Westport almost doubled their lead on the counter as Cameron back heeled to O’Gorman on the edge of the box but the striker fired just past O’Donoghue left hand post. At the other end Lawless headed away another dangerous Lee cross before Mo4ran set up Simon Walsh only for the assistant referee to stop play with yet another incorrect offside flag as the visitors were frustrated once again.

O’Gorman shot over with four minutes left after being set up by sub Vinny O’Malley’s knock down before Mervue wasted a glorious injury time chance to draw level. Adam Lee’s brilliant cross field ball found Simon Walsh who exchanged passes with Moran who slipped the ball back to the number nine who blaized over from inside the box in the final play of the game.

Westport Utd: Gary Cunningham; Shaun Tagg, Colm Keane, Joe Lawless, Martin Geraghty; Pat Fizgerald, Dave Caneron, Danny Scahill, Phillip Keegan; Dave Hoban (Vinny O’Malley 76), JP O’Gorman.

Mervue Utd: Brian O’Donoghue, Darvin Dowling, Eric Browne, Rob Connolly, Tommy Walsh; Alan O'Donavan (Adam Lee 68), Derek McWalter, Dan Tuck (Dara Ryan 37), Seamie Crowe (Stephen Larkin 85); Simon Walsh; Barry Moran.

Referee : Damien McGrath (Mayo)