Westport get the better of battling freebooters in fai junior cup
Winter football, eh? For the second time in two weeks in the Sports Park a war of attrition broke out and battling qualities and character booked Westport’s place in the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup with a 2-0 win over Freebooters, writes Nigel Naughton.
Similar to their tie against New Ross Celtic in the previous round, any hope of an open, free-flowing game was dashed by the wind, rain and heavy surface. This meant that Westport’s familiarity with the elements and their more physically imposing stature was likely to see them over the line.
Freebooters, to their credit, never stopped trying to pass the ball and move it through the lines into the final third. One would certainly praise their bravery in sticking to their principles. However, on a day like this, on a pitch as tight as the Sports Park, and against a team as experienced and resilient as Westport, it was never going to be enough.
The hosts know how to win games like this on their home patch and every time they got the ball forward, they looked dangerous, winning second balls off the towering pair of Dave Hoban and Darren Browne, who won the majority of their aerial duels.
As early as the fourth minute, Hoban had a great chance to give his side the lead. A searching delivery forward from Colin Cameron caught the visitors’ back four extremely flat. Hoban raced on to the delivery only to blaze his chance wide under pressure from Niall McEvoy.
Paddy Cahill certainly was a thorn in the side of Westport’s five-man midfield, especially in the first half. His composure on the ball as well as his ability to ghost past players meant that every time he got the ball you sensed he may make something happen, and in the sixth minute, his cross-shot evaded everyone and just went wide of Gary Cunningham’s right stick.
Again, Westport threatened when they got the ball forward quick and kept it alive from Hoban and Browne’s flicks on. Phil Keegan and Pat Fitzgerald both had half chances from this avenue of attack but were both thwarted by ‘Booters ‘keeper Mick Lambert, who gave an assured performance between the posts.
Disaster nearly struck for the home side on 25 minutes. Cahill received the ball from Aaron Molloy 30 yards out and wasn’t closed down quick enough before he unleashed a strike of the highest quality which deserved a goal.
Unfortunately for the Kilkenny outfit, it cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced into the hands of the grateful Cunningham to keep the sides level.
Danny Scahill then saw his toe-poke go just wide of the target before the home side broke the deadlock right before the break. Joe Lawless’ free kick from inside his own half was flicked on by Browne once again and Keegan outmuscled Freebooters’ left-full Jack Deegan, rolling him in the process, before unleashing an unstoppable low drive past Lambert to give Westport the lead.
For all their pluck and their attempts to play it on the floor, the away side never looked like threatening in the second half. In stages they kept the ball well in front of Westport’s rearguard. However, thanks to the intelligence and defensive instincts of Lawless and Martin Geraghty - both of whom were superb on the day, the latter putting in a man of the match display - and with Scahill screening in front of them in midfield, the Kilkenny outfit were always kept at arm’s length.
Within 60 seconds of the restart, and with Westport now playing with the aid of the breeze, it could have been two. Keegan’s cross was expertly turned away by Jack Poyntz, with Hoban sure to tap the ball home if it wasn’t for Poyntz’s goal saving clearance.
They didn’t have to wait too long to double the lead though. Niall McEvoy made the mistake of trying to win the ball in front of Hoban when it was played in to the No. 9’s feet. He spun McEvoy, meaning the centre half was pulled well out of position. Hoban then had the composure to pick out Darren Browne in the box and, at the second time of asking, he found the net to make it two-nil to Westport. Lambert had produced another outstanding save to deny Browne’s first attempt.
Moran and Hoban again stung the palms of Lambert before the end as Westport held on comfortably to progress to the last 16 of a competition they won outright 10 years ago. Is it written in the stars that they could go on to win it again? Well, if they are going to they will certainly have to do it the hardest way imaginable.
Westport United: G. Cunningham, S. Tagg, C. Cameron, J. Lawless, M. Geraghty, P. Moran, P. Keegan, D. Scahill, D. Hoban, D. Browne, P. Fitzgerald. Subs used: K. Joyce, J. Fallon.
Freebooters FC: M. Lambert, J. Poyntz, J. Deegan, J. O’ Keefe, N. McEvoy, K. Ireland, J. Kelly, S. Watkins, J. Hennessy, A. Molloy, P. Cahill.