Athenry seek more cup glory

Date Published: 09-May-2012

Mike Rafferty

INCREDIBLY, Athenry have lost just one Connacht Junior Cup game in six years and on Sunday next, they will be contesting their fifth Cup final in six seasons when they host Westport United in Terryland Park at 3pm.

After winning the cup for the first time in 2007, they retained it the following year, before suffering their lone defeat in that sequence when going down to Manulla in 2009.

Enjoying an impressive strike rate of four wins from their four deciders, the holders are chasing a third title in succession against a Mayo side who have just started their summer football campaign in impressive fashion. 

Athenry will be returning to the venue where they defeated Hibernians by 2-1 in 2010 and they followed this up with a 2-0 success over Ballinasloe Town in Lecarrow last season.

Now early season form gave no indication that Athenry would be around to defend their title, as they picked up just eight points from a possible 21 from their opening seven games in the Premier League.

However the return of a few seasoned campaigners and the continuous improvement of a number of the younger brigade has seen the side enjoy a rich vein of form in recent times. Not only did they improve their league fortuines hugely, they were in a challenging position for the title up to the final series of games.

Athenry have also marched into the final of the Michael Byrne Cup and will face East United in the decider next week. On Sunday last, they defeated Corrib Rangers by 4-0 as Gabriel Glavin’s charges wound up to the challenge facing them against Westport.

After comfortable wins over Conn Rangers (6-0), St John’s (4-0) and Manor Rangers (3-0) in the earlier rounds of the Connacht Cup, matters got a little difficult thereafter and they conceded their only goals to date when seeing off Salthill Devon by 4-3 in the quarter-finals in Drom.

Matters were equally difficult in an away semi final against Mervue United, but from Ray Moran’s cross, Conor Cannon fired home the winner in a 1-0 victory.

Down the years and with all their successes, one considered Athenry to be a mature settled side, but when they line out on Sunday, they will have at least five changes to the starting 11 that saw off Ballinasloe Town last year.

Goalkeeper Cieran Kilkelly has emigrated to Canada and John Grealish will continue his development between the posts. Benny Lawless was the two goal hero from that last final win, but he will be missing the final due to suspension, as a ridiculous second yellow card in the semi final ruled him out of the decider.

Emmett Byrne (B Team), Paddy Quinn (injured) and Mark Moran (left club) have taken a step away, having enjoyed many years success with the club. Despite the loss of the experienced players, the side has been freshened up with the injection of some new youthful faces.

Cathal Fahy and Conor Cannon look the likely duo to start up front and with bags of pace and ability, they should give the Westport back four a torrid time. Throughout the campaign, the duo have secured a bagful of goals and will no doubt be a huge threat on this occasion also.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.