Westport United edge out Ballyheane to win Super Cup

Ballyheane’s dream of a clean sweep of domestic trophies was ended by the narrowest of margins as Darren Browne’s first half penalty was enough to see Westport United be crowned Calor Gas Super Cup champions, ending a trophy drought stretching back to 2017.

In a game of limited chances, United took the lead in the eighth minute. Darren Browne played through Jack Murphy who was then brought down in the area by Cillian Redmond. Referee Jimmy Cawley pointed to the spot, and Browne hammered home the penalty to put United in front.

United should have had another penalty before half-time. Shane Nallen was sent through by Browne and appeared to be tripped up by Ballyheane goalkeeper Paddy Bourke but the referee allowed play to continue, much to the frustration of the United bench.

James O’Donnell almost doubled United’s lead in spectacular fashion five minutes into the second half but he saw his brilliant strike from 25 yards out tipped onto the bar by Bourke.

Mikey O’Brien, and Shaun Tagg saw chances from set-pieces denied while Ballyheane’s best chance fell to Michael Fahy, but his glancing header from Sean Kilcoyne’s free kick was tipped away by United goalkeeper Gary Cunningham.

Ballyheane pushed for an equaliser but United’s back four was not to be breached, with Shaun Tagg, James O’Donnell, Aaron Cannon and man of the match Mikey O’Brien imperious throughout.

Ballyheane: P. Bourke, R. Meldrum, M. Fahy, C. Redmond, J. Tuffy, S. Kilcoyne, D. Purcell, D. Fadden, N. Reilly Doyle, L. Irwin, B. Edeh.

Subs: D. Ludden, A. McHale, J. Rochford.

Westport Utd: G. Cunningham, M. O’Brien, J. O’Donnell, A. Cannon, S. Tagg, C. O’Toole, E. Conway, J. Murphy, S. Nallen, D. Browne, J. Frisch.

Subs: P. Corcoran, T. Campion.

Ref: J. Cawley.