Penalty drama across Mayo League divisional cup semi-finals
Westport United are through to the Westaro Cup final while three of the other six cup ties had to be settled by penalty shootouts in a dramatic day of Cup action.
Westaro Cup Semi Final
Westport United are the first side into the Westaro Cup Final after a 3-0 win over Castlebar Celtic who had to play for over an hour with ten men after Oran Groarke was sent off for an off the ball incident in the first half. The sending off came just two minutes after United took the lead when Kevin Kitterick scored his first of the day as he brilliantly headed the ball pass Stefan Hester from a left-wing cross from Darren Browne. Browne had the chance to double their lead on the half-hour mark, but his effort was well saved by Hester in the Celtic goal. Browne played a big part in United’s second goal as he sent Caoimhin O’Toole away down the right wing and his low cross was finished to the net by substitute Adam Diamond-Keane at the back post in the forty second minute. Celtic tried hard in the second half, but it was Westport who put the game to bed on sixty seven minutes as Diamond-Keane set up Kitterick to score his second of the day with a well taken finish from a tight angle inside the box.
Tuohy Cup Semi Final Sponsored by The Print Depot
Both Tuohy Cup semi-finals were decided by penalty shootouts with Moy Villa knocking out the holders Westport United B in the early game after the game finished 2-2 after extra-time to set up a repeat of last year’s Tonra Cup final against Crossmolina.
Tommy Forde and Conor Hanahoe scored the goals for the home-side but it was their keeper Barry Nestor who proved to be the hero as he saved two penalties in the shootout as Moy Villa won 3-1 to reach yet another final in Solar 21 Park.
In the second semi-final the match also finished 2-2 after extra-time as Crossmolina progressed to the final after a sudden death penalty shootout win over Conn Rangers.
Amazingly all the goals came inside the opening eight minutes of the game as Crossmolina took the lead twice through Shane Hennigan only for Rangers to hit back almost immediately on both occasions. Hennigan opened the scoring after only two minutes, but Oran Gallagher had Ranger’s level before Hennigan got his second and Colm Rutledge equalised for Rangers for a second time as he scored a goal on his debut.
From then on both sides had chances to win it both in normal and extra-time but the tie was decided by penalties with former Moy Villa keeper Sean Gallagher proving to be the hero for Michael Canavan’s side to set up another meeting against his old side in the final.
Tonra Cup Semi Finals Sponsored by Main Security
In the first semi final Vinny Coen’s Hollister survived an early onslaught from Conn Rangers B as they held on to record a 3-2 win over their North Mayo rivals.
Kyle Neary gave Rangers the lead on twenty minutes and his side then went on to miss a host of chances before Hollister struck twice in the latter stages of the half to lead at the break. The first came from the penalty spot through Martin Delaney with Daniel Moyles giving them the lead just two minutes later as he got on the end of a ball from Danny Langdon.
Rangers again dominated for most of the second half and looked to have sent the game to extra time when Ryan Merchant scored his first senior goal for the club from a free with time running out, but Hollister responded almost immediately as Delaney got on the end of a long goalkick to score the winning goal for Vinny Coen’s side to ensure they would get a day out in Solar 21 Park in the middle of July.
Ballinrobe Town needed a penalty shootout to finally see off Manulla B as game finished 2-2 after extra-time.
Ballinrobe took the lead on twenty minutes through Danny O’Toole and looked to be on their way to the final until Matty Nolan levelled the game with a penalty with just seven minutes remaining to send the game to extra-time. After a goalless first half Lee Lyons looked like he’d won the tie for Damien Joyce’s side as he hit an acrobatic bicycle kick that flew past Sean Shaughnessy in the Ballinrobe goal.
Just when it looked like Manulla would progress JP O’Gorman equalised to send the game to penalties, and it was the home side that went through as the League One player of the month for May Sean Shaughnessy made two crucial saves in the shootout to give Rory Walsh the chance to win it and the defender made no mistake as he sent the keeper the wrong way to send his side into the Tonra Cup Final.
McDonnell Cup Semi Finals Sponsored by Electric Skyline
Ballyheane B continued their recent run of good form as they reached the McDonnell Cup Final with a 2-0 win away to Ballyvary Blue Bombers. A goal in either half from Eddie Kimpwene and Arek Tobiasz was enough to see them past Alan Campbell’s side.
They will meet Partry Athletic in the final after Neil Donnelly’s side came from a goal down early on to earn a 5-2 win over Castlebar Celtic B.
Eoin Keane gave Celtic the lead as he pounced on a poor clearance out of the Partry defence to give Celtic the lead inside the opening three minutes, but Partry hit back quickly to take the lead Finach MacGabhann scored twice inside the next ten minutes. His first came from an excellent shot from twenty yards with the second coming from closer in after he got on the end of a ball from Paul McAlpine to fire his shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. MacGabhann turned provider for Partry’s third goal which arrived just before half-time as his cross from a short corner was finished to the net by Liam Burke.
Ciaran Hennelly added a fourth early in the second half as he headed in another corner from MacGabhann before Celtic pulled a goal back from Liam King five minutes later. Any thoughts of a Celtic comeback were ended fifteen minutes later when Martin Fox finished well after he got on the end of a lovely through ball from John Byrne to seal another memorable win for the South Mayo side.